Help the aspiring baker express his culinary regrets after a disastrous cake experiment. Choose the correct verb forms to complete his thoughts.

I really wish I had checked the label on the salt jar before pouring it into the batter.

If only I hadn't listened to my inner "creative chef" and just followed the recipe!

I really wish I had checked the label on the salt jar before pouring it into the batter.

When we express regret about a past event, we use "wish" + the past perfect tense (had + past participle).

If only I hadn't listened to my inner "creative chef" and just followed the recipe!

Similarly, "if only" + the past perfect is used to talk about things we would like to change about the past. In this case, he regrets listening to his instincts, so we use the negative past perfect (had not listened).