Sunday Notes: A Case for the Boring Bake

I spent three bakes this week on a jalapeño-cheddar loaf that a King Arthur recipe made look effortless. Every one of them came out either under-baked in the middle or with cheese fused to the Dutch oven lid.

Inclusions are heavy. They dampen bulk, resist gluten development, and rob steam from the crust. If your plain country boule isn't reliably beautiful, an inclusion loaf will only exaggerate the weaknesses.

Back to plain flour, water, salt, starter for the next month. The fancy stuff will still be there in August.