Herman Bread Food

HERMAN STARTER

Steps:

• combine all ingredients to a smooth batter in a 2-quart glass or ceramic container (no metal). Cover with cheesecloth or other loose covering, and keep in a warm place (around 80 degrees F) for 3 to 4 days to ferment. It should expand and bubble. When ready it should have a yeasty, slightly sour smell.
• At this point, this is Herman's "First Day" in the ten-day cycle of Herman Life. He's ready for his first feeding.
• Feeding Herman: Mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir this into Herman, cover loosely, and place in the fridge. It will be lumpy. Stir daily (but if you forget a day, he'll be fine).
• In five days, you'll need to feed him again. (Day 5).
• In five more days (Day 10), you'll feed him again and/or use him to make something. Pay attention to the specific recipe to see whether you feed him just before making the item or afterwards.
• Herman can be used for biscuits, coffeecake, pancakes, cookies, banana bread, sweet rolls, and more. I believe the recipes I have have been handed down from one Herman owner to another for decades. Hope you enjoy!

HERMAN STARTER -- FOR AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
• Let stand 10 minutes.
• In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar.
• Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added.
• Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture.
• Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly.
• Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle.
• Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
• On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon.
• Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
• Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
• Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
• Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe.
• Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

HERMAN SOURDOUGH STARTER

Steps:

• In a large glass or plastic container, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Stir in the flour and sugar, mix until smooth. (DO NOT USE A METAL SPOON)! Cover loosely and store in a warm place overnight.
• The next day, stir and refrigerate.
• Stir once each day for the next four days. On the fifth day, stir, then divide in half. Give half away with feeding instructions.
• Feed starter with 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk. Stir until smooth. Cover and place in refrigerator. Stir once each day for next four days.
• On the tenth day feed again with 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk. Return to refrigerator and stir once each day for the next four days.
• On the fifteenth day it is ready to be used for baking. Reserve one cup of the starter in the refrigerator and continue to follow the stir and feed cycle (Stir once a day for four days, stir and feed on the fifth day, ready for use on the tenth day.)

HERMAN COFFEE CAKE STARTER AND BREAD

Steps:

• STARTER: Stir Ingredients together, mixing well, in a gallon container.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate.
• Feed Herman the same 3 Starter ingredients (above) every 5 days for a total of 4 times (20 days).
• Stir Herman daily.
• When you are ready to bake a Herman Cake, you should have about eight cups of starter.
• Bake Herman cake (recipe below) on the 25th day from the first feeding.
• ***Keep your own starter growing, use some to bake a Herman Cake, and give some to friends.
• ***SHARING YOUR STARTER: If someone gives you a cup of Herman Starter, you must feed it for 10 days before you bake with it.
• Day 1: Feed Starter with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk.
• Stir, cover and refrigerate.
• Day 2-4: Stir.
• Leave in refrigerator.
• Day 5: Feed Starter again with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk.
• Stir, cover and refrigerate.
• Day 6-9: Stir.
• Leave in refrigerator.
• ***Herman should now be about 4 cups: use 2 cups to bake, give 1 cup to friend, and keep 1 cup to grow more Starter.
• ***Day 10: MAKE HERMAN CAKE AS FOLLOWS: Mix all Herman Cake ingredients together, along with 2 cups of Herman Starter, and pour into a greased/floured bundt pan.
• Sprinkle top with Topping mixture.
• Bake 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
• Or use a 15x19-2" pan and bake 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
• TOPPING MIXTURE: Mix together all Topping ingredients and sprinkle over cake BEFORE baking.
• GLAZE: Mix all Glaze ingredients together and cook for 5 minutes.
• Pour over top of hot baked Herman Cake.

(HERMAN STARTER) SWEET ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 and grease a pie or round cake pan.
• Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, 1/4 c brown sugar, oil, & Herman.
• Place on floured surface and knead lightly.
• Shape into rolls and place in greased pie or cake pan.
• Stir together the other 1/4 c brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and nuts to make the topping. Sprinkle over rolls. Bake 15-20 minutes or until brown.

(HERMAN STARTER) SOURDOUGH BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 and grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan.
• Cream together margarine/butter and sugar; add egg and mix until blended.
• Stir in banana and Herman.
• Sift dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, soda) into banana mixture and add nuts if desired. Stir just enough for the batter to come together; extra stirring will make it tougher.
• Pour into loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Cool thoroughly before slicing.