As I walked into the kitchen, I was instantly hit with a familiar sweet scent. It was the same scent whenever Ms. Belcalis passed by me in the office. I had never been able to quite place my finger on it before, but now I realized that it came from a habit of baking. The sweet scent of honey mixed with caramelized apples.

All sorts of baking supplies— ranging from a stand mixer to loose whisks and measuring spoons— were scattered across the countertop. In the little corners of the ...