The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Certain recipes have the power to transport. As a young boy, I would carefully watch whoever was in the kitchen, fascinated by the magic taking place as delicious meals came together on the stovetop.

One vivid memory is of my father rolling meatballs with his big hands and dropping them into a bubbling pot of soup.

Years later in Seattle, I would rediscover that soup as an adult. Stopping at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants for lunch one day, I was intrigued to read their special: Sopa de Albondigas, a homey meatball soup rarely seen on menus. As I took my fist bite of a plump meatb...