Pasta & Lentil Soup With Smoked Pork Hocks Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 smoked (4 pounds) pork hocks (two large smoked hocks roughly about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds each, but the size does not really matter)
• 3 quarts chicken broth (12 cups)
• 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounce) diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 pound dry lentils (about 1 1/4 cups you could use a little more))
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs (or more)
• 1 cup elbow pasta (dry, or shell pasta)
• salt
• ground pepper
• Parmesan cheese, grated