Vegetarian Borscht - Olga's Flavor Factory

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry beans (brined overnight in 4 cups water and 3/4 teaspoons table salt, or 1 (14.5 oz.) can of beans)
• 12 cups water
• 2 dry bay leaves
• 3-5 black peppercorns
• 3 potatoes (peeled and chopped)
• 1/2 cabbage (thinly sliced)
• 1 Tablespoon oil or butter
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 carrot (peeled and grated)
• 1 celery stalk (sliced)
• 2 medium roasted beets (or canned beets, 2 (14.5 oz cans), peeled and grated or sliced into matchsticks)
• 2 tomatoes (seeded and chopped)
• 2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1-2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 bunch beet greens (chopped)
• salt (pepper)
• fresh herbs - parsley (green onions, dill)
• sour cream (to garnish)