We’re pulling back the curtain today to introduce you to a very special member of our team—Emma, the wordsmith behind Madder Cutch & Co.’s blog posts, newsletters, and website content. If you’ve ever felt like our words felt like they were written just for you, that’s thanks to Emma!
Emma’s lived in the Stamford area all her life, and like Nikki (our founder), she’s an ex-teacher turned creative. Her love for storytelling, slow living, and simple pleasures made her a perfect fit for our studio—where everything we do celebrates craftsmanship, care, and nature’s palette.
Her latest obsession? A gorgeously chewy sourdough ciabatta that smells like heaven and tastes even better. And lucky for us, she’s kindly sharing the recipe!
Emma’s Sourdough Ciabatta
This one’s for the fellow bread lovers—especially those who love the ritual of making something from scratch. Here’s Emma’s go-to recipe:
You’ll need:
100g sourdough starter (active and bubbly)
360g water
450g bread flour
12g salt
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the water, starter, and salt.
Add the flour and mix until a sticky dough forms.
Cover the bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Perform a set of gentle stretches and folds (lift, stretch, and fold the dough over itself).
Let the dough rise until it’s increased in size by around 75%. Cover with a lid and place in the fridge for 12–24 hours.
When ready to bake, remove from the fridge. Dust the top of the dough generously with flour.
Liberally flour a work surface and turn the dough out.
Divide into two portions and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
Bake at 220ºC for 25 minutes—until golden, crusty, and impossible to resist.
Emma’s sourdough ciabatta
Why We Love Homemade Bread
There’s something deeply grounding about baking your own bread. It invites a slower pace, fills the home with comforting aromas, and offers that unbeatable moment of tearing into a warm, fresh loaf with the people you love.
And let’s be honest—once you’ve had fresh sourdough made with care, the supermarket stuff just doesn’t cut it.
It’s this same spirit of natural simplicity and intention that inspires everything we create at Madder Cutch & Co. From our plant-dyed linens to our hand-printed cushions, we believe beautiful things take time—and are always better when they’re made with love.
Add the Perfect Finishing Touch
If you’re baking bread at home, why not serve it in style? Our hand-printed linen bread baskets are designed to elevate your table and celebrate your craft. Made from natural linen and printed using our plant-based dyes, they’re just as lovely for serving ciabatta at a dinner party as they are for holding fresh rolls on a Sunday morning.
Explore our linen bread baskets here—and give your homemade loaves the home they deserve.
And why not make a note of Emma’s delicious recipe in one of our signature notebooks? The perfect companion to any baking project!
Our beautiful notebooks
Baking looks better wearing a Madder Cutch & Co. apron!