Like many people, I enjoy baking my own bread—especially this time of year. I baked sourdough on and off for nearly a decade, even having a recipe tested for a James Beard-winning bread cookbook, but I’m not proud to admit it’s been over a year since I baked a proper sourdough loaf. As a full-time working parent, maintaining a sourdough starter sometimes feels like bringing home another pet. (You know, the kind your child swears they will care for before abandoning all tasks after three days.)