When Melissa Long moved from Cincinnati to Las Vegas in the early 2000s, she worked in a casino with Tatiana, a friend from outside of Prague. Occasionally, Tatiana prepared a rustic, comforting soup that included pork ribs, smoked Polish sausage, sauerkraut, mushrooms and potatoes. “She never used a recipe,” Melissa recalled. “It was from her memories growing up on her parents’ farm.” These kinds of simple, hearty foods were familiar to Melissa from her childhood. Melissa was raised by her grandparents, who cooked frugal, German-style dishes like sausages and sauerkraut. It’s been 10 years since she’s attempted to make the soup and is hoping Milk Street can help her re-create it.