[viettaclark]

Has anyone been doing this or is it a Southampton thing?
Basically I was given a small amount of a sour dough cake mixture which comes with instructions. Over 10 days you "feed" it and stir it then split it into 4, give away 2 to friends, bake one and keep one to start all over again.
I've been doing it for a while now and ran out of friends a while back so I bake 2 and one goes down the drain (shame!)
It's a sort of "puddingy" batch cake and I've experimented with added ingredients. The last batch was Terry's Chocolate Orange in one and my frozen strawbs, rasps and (bought) blueberries in the other.
Both were delicious but we're getting a bit fed up with it now!

[joyfull]

never heard of it before but sounds like a nice idea.

[sarajane]

never heard of it before but sounds like a nice idea.

I did one in december but had apples in mine. This was called a Herman the German friendship cake as I think it originates in germany.  I too ran out of friends on my second batch, plus friends were busy with X--s preps.

I do believe if you need a break from it though you can freeze a batch of the 10 day old starter, just defrost and start again.

I loved the yeasty smell you get in the kitchen whilst its 'brewing'

[tadpole]

Herman starter from an Amish cinnamon cake, but can be used as a sweet sourdough starter for all kinds of breads biscuits and rolls. My daughter brought a starter home from school about six months ago, and we made half a dozen cakes before we got bored.  There are only so many people who you can give the starter to.

[sunshineband]

Herman lived with us for months, and months and months 

I ran out of friends to give one too, and we were fed up eating it too.

The cake was actually very nice and we had all sorts of variations on the original apple and cinnamon

My last batches went to the church coffee morning, and were well received - I rewrote the instructions, reminding the recipients to make sure they didn't keep one going ad infinitum 

[matilda333]

I have just had a batch passed onto me  so I am still in the enthusiastic stage at the mo but will keep you posted!!

[viettaclark]

Just been online and you can make your own starter so I'm not going to continue it. It's been 5 months!!!!
My teenage son will be pleased.....He's fed up with that type and he wants me to make cake like I used to........

[sunshineband]

I'm sure he's pleased 

[sarajane]

I bet he is.mine got fed up after 2 of the cakes....

[viettaclark]

 

[chrissie B]

will they not freeze ?
chrissie b

[Sue33]

i was given one of these a few months ago, i thought it was a great idea, although it didn't go down too well with other members of the family who thought it was quite disgusting the cake was lovely once cooked, i added dried fruit and nuts but it made soo much the chickens ended up finishing it off for me 

[viettaclark]

They do freeze, Chrissie, but I've now got 2 drawers full of assorted ones.
It makes an awful lot of cake......

[matilda333]

I have just had a batch passed onto me  so I am still in the enthusiastic stage at the mo but will keep you posted!!

The first batch has now been cooked with the classic cinnamon and apple....not much left and its still warm!...