Let \( F \) represent the amount of flour in the original recipe in cups. According to the information given:
In the original recipe for 4 loaves, the total amount of flour and sugar combined is:
\[ F + 2 \text{ (cups of sugar)} = \text{total amount of flour and sugar} \]
Kendra's adjusted recipe makes only 1 loaf and calls for \( 2 \frac{1}{2} \) cups of flour and sugar combined. We can also express \( 2 \frac{1}{2} \) cups as a proper fraction:
\[ 2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{2} \text{ cups} \]
Since Kendra is making just one loaf, we can set up the following proportion based on the fact that the original recipe makes 4 loaves, thus:
\[ \frac{1}{4} \times (F + 2) = \frac{5}{2} \]
To find \( F \), we first multiply both sides by 4:
\[ F + 2 = 4 \times \frac{5}{2} \]
Calculating the right side:
\[ 4 \times \frac{5}{2} = 2 \times 5 = 10 \]
Now we have:
\[ F + 2 = 10 \]
Subtracting 2 from both sides gives:
\[ F = 10 - 2 = 8 \]
Thus, the amount of flour in the original recipe is \( \boxed{8} \) cups.