Mom's Ham and Bean Soup

Details

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups dried Great Northern beans
• 4 meaty ham hocks
• 5 cups water
• 1 ½ cups sliced celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme, or more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf