Lentil Soup

• Soup
• 1 1/2 lbs smoked ham hock
• 10 cups water
• 2 carrots, scraped and sliced
• 2 celery ribs, chopped with their leaves
• 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup dry lentils, rinsed
• bouquet garni
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 6 peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme

1. Make the bouquet garni by placing the herbs in a cheesecloth or a metal tea ball. Place in large stock pot.
2. Add all ingredients in stock pot--water, vegetables, lentils.
3. Simmer the soup for one hour, covered, or until the lentils are tender. Discard the bouquet garni.
4. Remove the ham hocks. Cut the meat from them. Reserve. Discard bones.
5. Optional: in the container of a food processor or large blender, whirl half of the soup until it is smooth, 2 cups at a time. Return to pot with other half of soup. Add meat. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve.

hock, water, carrots, celery, onion, dry lentils, bouquet garni, bay leaves, cloves, garlic, parsley, peppercorns, thyme

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/lentil-soup-506845 (may not work)