Pea & Ham Soup

• 500 grams Green split peas
• 1 Leek, sliced
• 3 large carrots, diced
• 2 large potatoes, diced
• 3 Celery stalks, diced
• 2 Bay leaf
• 4 Smoked ham bones (or bacon bones)
• 200 grams Piece of smoked ham
• 1 Cracked black pepper to taste

1. Soak split peas for 6 hours or over night.
2. Drain, rinse and add to large pot.
3. Cover with cold water.
4. Bring to the boil then gently simmer until peas start to break up.
5. Whilst waiting for that to happen- throw carrots, leek and celery in a large heavy base pan and fry until softened (not browned).
6. Add celery, leek and carrots to the peas along with potatoes, bay leaves, ham bones and ham.
7. Keep it simmering for around an eternity until the smell makes you salivate and soup is thickened.
8. Remove ham piece, chop it up and throw it back in.
9. I like to leave the bones in but you can remove if wanted.
10. Nothing beats sucking on a bacon bone whilst you eat your soup (for me).
11. Crack some black pepper and serve with crusty bread.
12. Enjoy!

carrots, potatoes, celery, bay leaf, ham bones, ham, black pepper

Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/480946-pea-ham-soup (may not work)