Ingredients:
* ham hocks or meaty ham bone
* water
* 1 pound dried peas
* 1 chopped onion
* 1 chopped celery stalk
* 1 medium carrots
* bay leaf
* 1 teaspoon thyme
* salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
In a large pot. Fry onion, carrot, celery saute veggies until soft about 5 minutes.
Then add the garlic saute 1 minute.
Add bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
Rinse well the peas. Add dried peas it to the vegetables and 8 cups water.
Or, half water and favorite broth. Add ham bone or ham hock or, a couple slices of cooked bacon. For vegetarian - leave out meat. Bring to a boil then, reduce heat to low simmer. Cook covered - about 1 hour.
Take out ham or ham hock. Remove meat when cool enough.
Put the meat in a pot and cook for 5 minutes.
