My Best New England Clam Chowder

Name: My Best New England Clam Chowder
Ingredients: 4 -6 ounces salt pork, diced; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 cup chopped onion (I always use a sweet onion); 2 tablespoons flour; fresh ground black pepper (to taste); thyme (to taste}); 5 cups cooked diced potatoes; 1 quart half-and-half (you can use fat free); 1 cup approx. low sodium chicken broth; 3 (6 1/2 ounce) cans minced clams or 3 (6 1/2 ounce) cans chopped clams, plus; 1 cup clam juice; chopped Italian parsley; fresh lemon juice, to taste; hot pepper sauce; salt