Friendship cakes and bread have one thing in common: A starter is required. A number of readers have asked for the recipe for both the starter and bread. The procedure sounds lengthy, and it is.

Dear Lisa: I am looking for the recipe for the starter to a friendship cake. You start out with the starter and add peaches and sugar. Then after 10 days, you add pineapple and sugar; then after 10 ...

Dear Lisa: I used to love to make a cake called "Friendship Cake" or the 30-day cake. You would get your starter from a friend, and every few days you would add a fruit and sugar until it was complete ...

Begin with a Brandied Fruit Starter, feed and care for it for 30 days and then bake several Friendship Cakes (which your friends will be delighted to receive), and then begin the process once more.