My Favorite Borscht

3 pounds beef shinbone
2 pounds beef brisket, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 cups shredded cabbage
2 cups diced beets
2 large onions, chopped
3 1/2 cups canned tomatoes
3/4 cup lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 small bay leaf, crumbled
1 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper
Sour cream for serving
Cover the shinbone and brisket with 2 quarts of water in a large pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered for 1 hour. Add the cabbage, beets, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, bay leaf, paprika, sugar, salt and pepper, and simmer for an additional 2 hours.

Remove the shinbone, trim off the meat, and discard the bone. Cut the meat into 1-inch pieces. Return the meat to the soup and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Serve with sour cream.

Yield: 6 servings.