In my years of baking bread, I have periodically revisited formulas which proved problematic. That experience led to some insights, among them the importance of fermentation. Not only does it require vigilance around time, but timing extends beyond looking at a clock. As the kitchen saying goes, “a watched pot never boils.” In the case of baking, the dough will tell you when it’s ready. You have to wait for it, with a mix of watching, feeling, and intuition. Below are some loaves that came out right.