Meatballs Like Mama Makes

This recipe calls to mind the llaves (outdoor water faucets) on the ranch, which were always surrounded with patches of yerba buena—“good herb,” or mint. Whenever my mother made albóndigas I would be sent out to pick some fresh for the soup. She always served it with freshly made corn tortillas, salsa casera (homestyle sauce), and refried beans with asadero (“roasting” cheese; the nearest thing here would be mozzarella).

Whenever my mother comes to