There’s something instantly grounding about walking into Anna Di Pasqua’s kitchen in Redding, Connecticut. The air is warm, carrying the quiet hum of a morning spent tending to dough; stretching, folding, shaping. On the counter sits a banneton dusted with flour, a bubbling starter close by, and a loaf fresh from the oven.
Anna, known locally and online as The Bake Witch (@the.bake.witch), bakes sourdough bread, cookies, and cinnamon rolls from her home, each loaf made with time, care, and an unmistakable touch of intuition. Her baking practice began as a way to ground herself during postpartum days, a quiet ritual that quickly grew into a passion, and now, a small cottage business.
“I love the simplicity and purity of ingredients, just flour, water, and salt,” Anna shared. “It’s ancient. Humans have been baking bread for thousands of years. There’s something sacred about continuing that tradition.”
From Simple Ingredients to Something Sacred
Anna’s journey into sourdough began much like many beginner bakers; with curiosity, a handful of flour, and a mason jar of water. She learned through trial and error, creating her own starter from scratch and perfecting her technique while balancing the demands of motherhood.
For Anna, sourdough isn’t just about the bread, it’s about process, patience, and connection. “It’s a personal ritual and a creative outlet,” she says. “It engages all of your senses.”
The name The Bake Witch nods to that almost mystical transformation that happens when baking; water and flour become something alive, nourishing, and shared.
How to Begin Your Own Sourdough Journey
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at sourdough baking, Anna insists it’s easier than it seems as long as you begin with the right foundation.
1. Start with a healthy starter.
Your starter is the heart of your sourdough. Anna recommends beginning with one from a trusted local baker (many will happily share), rather than starting from scratch. “Your bread will only ever be as good as your starter,” she notes.
2. Invest in a few essential tools.
You don’t need a professional bakery setup to begin. Anna’s must-haves:
- A kitchen scale
- A large glass mixing bowl
- A food thermometer (dough temperature is key!)
- A Dutch oven
- Parchment paper and clean kitchen cloths
- A proofing basket or banneton
Optional but fun-to-have tools include a Danish dough whisk, bread lame, and spray bottle for perfect crusts.
3. Learn to read your dough.
Beginner bakers often under-ferment their dough, shaping it before it’s fully developed. Anna uses the aliquot jar method (placing a small sample of dough in a glass jar to watch how it rises) as a simple, visual way to gauge fermentation.
“When your dough has risen about 30–50% in the jar, looks jiggly and aerated, and gently pulls away from the bowl, it’s alive and ready,” she says.
4. Embrace whole grains.
Anna loves baking with spelt and rye for their rich flavor and nutrition. “They add such depth; earthy, nutty, wholesome. And they make a loaf feel even more nourishing.”
The Gift of Bread
Few things feel more heartfelt than gifting something made with your own hands. “Giving homemade bread really speaks from the heart,” Anna told us. “I love to personalize a loaf using intricate scoring patterns, it’s like art you can eat.”
At Clover & Clay, we couldn’t agree more. Bread, after all, has always been a symbol of sharing; a gesture of hospitality and love. Whether you’re gifting one of Anna’s beautiful loaves or baking your own, consider pairing it with one of our favorite Clover & Clay gift items:
- Artisan olive oil or herbed finishing salt for dipping
- A handcrafted breadboard or linen set for serving
- Or, for a thoughtful hostess or housewarming gift, a loaf wrapped in our signature white box and ribbon, tucked alongside a jar of local honey
Each pairing transforms something simple, a loaf of bread, into a deeply meaningful gesture of warmth and connection.
Alive, Ancient, Nourishing
When asked to describe sourdough in three words, Anna doesn’t hesitate: Alive. Ancient. Nourishing.
And that’s exactly what her bread embodies: a return to the roots of food, to a time when bread was slow, alive, and meant to be shared. Each loaf is a quiet reminder that the best things in life - and in gifting - take time, care, and a touch of magic.
We’re so thrilled to now feature Anna’s freshly baked sourdough bread in select Clover & Clay gift boxes, a partnership that feels as natural as the ingredients in her loaves. Her bread pairs beautifully with locally sourced honey, small-batch jams, and other artisanal items we love to include in our curated collections.
Whether you’re gifting to a client, welcoming a new neighbor, or simply spreading a little warmth, we’ll help you create the perfect combination. And yes, we deliver.
Follow along with Anna Di Pasqua, The Bake Witch, on Instagram at @the.bake.witch to see her loaves rise, crackle, and shine. And explore Clover & Clay’s gifting collection to experience thoughtful, local gifting at its most delicious.
