German Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, diced
2 medium onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 c. sliced celery
1 ham bone
1 (16 oz.) pkg. lentils
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
8 c. hot water
salt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Preparation

In a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, fry bacon until lightly browned; push to side of pan.
Add onions, carrots and celery.
Cook over medium heat until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add ham bone, lentils, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, hot water and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover and simmer over low heat 1 hour or until lentils are tender. Discard bay leaves.
Remove ham bone to cutting board and cut off any meat. Cut into small pieces. Stir meat into soup.
Add lemon juice and salt to taste.