Home Sweet Simple Home

Homespun to homemade- foodie gift

Friendship Bread
Recently my sister shared a friendship bread starter with me and I’ve quickly gotten to the point where there is no one left to share starter with. Friends don’t make eye contact when they see those baggies . . . . . .
So when it was baking day I decided to make a double batch of bread. I measured and calculated and found that after I divided the starter into the four bags I needed two of the bags for the double batch. So that only left me with two bags of starter (one I was able to give away- doubt I’ll be so lucky next time). We had some small sized aluminum bread pans from a previous project so the kids and I made three regular sized loaves and four mini loaves. Since it is friendship bread we gave away two mini-loaves and one regular loaf. We froze the rest.
We plan on doing the same thing when it’s baking day again (and then I believe I will freeze the starter and give myself a break for awhile . . . .). These little loaves will then be dressed up with ribbons and tags and given away at Christmas.
I believe the trick to making this a one-of-a-kind gift is the little additions you make to the friendship bread.
Here’s some that we’ve tried:
dried cherries
dried cranberries
raisins
chocolate chips
butterscotch chips
Chocolate and peanut butter chips.
We find the bread to be very delicious- it doesn’t last long around here.
So what does it come out to in cost? Calculating is a bit difficult since what you pour in also makes the starters (that you are suppose to give away) but by my calculations it costs $4.16 to make a double batch which will yield 2 regular sized loaves and six mini-loaves. This comes out to just over $1.00 for each regular loaf and 50 cents for each mini-loaf.
We’ll wrap the bread good and tight and store it in the freezer until closer to Christmas.
Dressing it up with ribbon from our ribbon stash and tags made from scrapbooking scraps . . . . . voila!
Who will we give these gifts to?
The Neighbors
Sunday School Teachers (along with small packages of trail mix)
Extended Family
And who knows?
By my calculations I’ll need 7 to 8 mini-loaves and 3-4 regular loaves. So if I make 2 double batches between now and Christmas that will yield a dozen mini-loaves and four regular loaves. That is a little bit more than I need but I’m sure I could find someone else to give to . . . . .
So- calculating some more- two more double batches will cost me $8.32.
I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.

Untitled Comment

4:57 PM, 2008-Nov-13 .. Posted by Anonymous

My favorite recipe for this is using Chocolate Pudding instead of vanilla and choc and peanut butter chips... AMAZING!!!!
~Jenna Hilger jlhilgers.blogspot.com

Oh Yum

5:32 PM, 2008-Nov-13 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Jenna- Yum. How much chocolate pudding do you put in it?
Let me know ‘cuz I want to try it your way!
Amy W

Here Again

9:31 AM, 2008-Nov-14 .. Posted by freye

Have not been here for so long....so much sickness...
anyhow God is good.... If anyone is interested
Myt other Blog is: http://colourmelove-sunny.blogspot.com
I seem to get more comments and views there PTL...
I don't know what is wrong but noone seems to view here...
God bless you all anyway......
WE can have all knowledge 'But if we have not love'
At the moment due to immune system have no computer so view @ the library so much waterr under the bridge
Enjoyed your BLOG
Blessings
Freye

Recipes

9:56 AM, 2008-Nov-17 .. Posted by Laura

I stole your Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe and am going to try it this week! THANKS!