Instructions: Day one: In a glass or ceramic bowl, mix the starter ingredients.

Leave on the kitchen counter uncovered. Dont refrigerate.

Days two, three and four: stir well with a wooden spoon.

Day five, stir and add 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of sugar. This is called "feeding the starter."

Days six, seven and eight: Stir with a wooden spoon.

Day nine: Stir and add another 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of flour and 1 cup sugar. Stir well.

Days 10 and 11: Stir well.

Day 12: Ladle 1 cup of starter into four containers and refrigerate.

Use one to make the bread recipe. Keep one for your use another time, and give the other two to friends.

If you dont bake on this day, add 1 teaspoon sugar and refrigerate the mixture. Date the jars, and every 10 days remove the starter from the fridge, transfer it to a bowl, and feed it the usual combination of 1 cups each of milk, flour and sugar. Leave it outside the fridge uncovered for 2 days. Then, either bake it or divide it among your friends.

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