Food is a way to connect with people

But the power of bread is something that’s universally appreciated. It’s both physically and spiritually nurturing.

“Bread is so much a part of humanity,” Gonzalez said. “It’s used in a way that’s sort of a peace-making thing, whether its sourdough or banana bread when you have new neighbors move in.”

Food, in general, is a way to connect with people, said Gonzalez, and that notion is at the heart of her recipes. Most yield big batches, which means they’re meant for sharing.

That’s the case with Gonzalez’s Ultimate Cinnamon Roll recipe, which makes a dozen gooey cream cheese iced buns. You simply can’t eat all of those alone.

And should you have leftovers, there’s a recipe for that, too. “Throw away in a teaspoon what you bring home in a shovel,” was a favorite saying of Gonzalez’s grandparents, children of the Depression.

“A lot of recipes in the book reuse other recipes,” Gonzalez said. “The cinnamon roll bread pudding is one. It only uses a handful more of ingredients, so at least you’re not throwing away food.”

Still, Gonzalez hopes it won’t come to that.

“Bake for you and then also feed someone else,” she said. “That’s what the bakery has always been about, whether literally or figuratively. And all of the stories in the book show.”