Granddad's Mexican Caldo

Granddad's Caldo is a clear vegetable soup made with a meat (like beef shanks, etc.) and containing cabbage, green peppers, onions, potatoes, etc.

1 lb. beef shanks or neckbones
1 head of cabbage, small-to-medium
1 onion
1 bell pepper
several cloves garlic
several potatoes
Salt
Pepper
1/2 teaspoon comino (cumin)

Lightly brown meat in oiled pan. Remove and place in large pot (6-quart dutch oven is ok). Add water to cover at least 2 inches over. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam which forms, then simmer until meat is tender. Add everything but cabbage (press garlic and cut everything else into fairly large chunks) and add water to cover. Cut cabbage into 8 pieces and add it after about 15 minutes, adding water as necessary to cover. Simmer until potatoes and cabbage are tender.

Serve with hot tortillas either as a main dish or as a soup course.