In writing this book, I have come to realize that baking is a process of connection. As we bake, we connect with those hardy souls who sowed the first grain with bone hoes and ground it between two rocks to make a simple flatbread. We connect with present-day farmers and millers who, through their toil and care, provide us with quality ingredients. We connect with those who developed the original recipes that we have adapted. We connect with those we bake with and with those we serve with the work of our hands and our hearts. In ways that cannot be fully expressed, we connect with ourselves as we mix the ingredients and knead the dough. It is all a process of connection, and being aware of all of this makes it a spiritual endeavor.