German Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, diced
2 medium-sized onions, sliced
2 medium-sized carrots, sliced
1 large celery stalk, sliced
1 ham bone with 2 c. meat left on (from cooked whole or half smoked ham)
1 (16 oz.) pkg. dry lentils
1 bay leaf
8 c. water
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
salt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Preparation

In 5-quart Dutch oven or saucepot over low heat, cook bacon until lightly browned; push to side of Dutch oven.
Add onions, carrots and celery; over medium heat, cook until vegetables are tender.
Add ham bone, lentils, bay leaf, water, pepper, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt; over high heat, heat to boiling.
Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 hour or until lentils are tender.
Discard bay leaf.