White Bean Ham Hock Soup

'What do I do with these ham hocks?' is probably one of the most common questions I get from people who have bought a half hog.  Ham hocks are smoked and flavored just like ham.  There is not a lot of meat on each hock, and to be able to remove the meat from the bone, you need to cook it low and slow.  Using your crock pot to make this soup is an easy and flavorful way to use your hocks.

1 ham hock
1 qt. chicken stock / broth
1 onion, chopped
3 bay leaves
1 t. dried thyme
4-5 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cans white beans, drained and rinsed 
ground white pepper

Place ham hock in crock pot.  Pour chicken stock over the hock.  Add bay leaves and onion and set to low for 4 hours.  Add carrots and beans and cook for another 2-3 hours on low.  When meat is easily pulled away from the bone, remove meat and place on cutting board.  When cool enough to handle, shred meat and then return to crock pot.  Season with ground white pepper to taste.  No additional salt will be necessary with the saltiness of the ham hock.