Danielle Renee wrote:
> I found the following recipe for Amish friendship bread on Cooks.com.
>
> On Day 1: In glass or plastic bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour and 1
> cup milk. Stir mixture with wooden or plastic spoon (don't use metal spoon
> or electric mixer). Cover bowl loosely with paper towel, cloth, wax paper or
> plastic wrap. Keep at room temperature (don't refrigerate).
>
> <sniped>
>
> My question is whether or not it is safe to use milk in the recipe and then
> leave it sit out on the counter for ten days?
>
> dan'l
>
> ...who thinks this would make my 'friends' sick...
>
>


Yes it's safe. The milk sours, and the bacteria and yeast that cause it
to sour out-compete everything except certain molds; and you use the
starter before it molds.

If you are still squeamish about leaving the milk out (and you want to
use a real sourdough starter), mix flour and bottled water until it
looks like runny pancake batter, cover with a paper towel, and let it
sit on the counter for a few days until it gets foamy. Once it gets
going, you feed it with more flour and water -- and you can use tap
water once it's going without the chlorine killing the starter.

Bob