Pea and Ham Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried peas or split peas
• 1/2 cup diced pieces of cooked ham or a ham bone
• 1 large onion and a little fat (optional)
• 6 cups ham stock or water
• cream, parsley (optional)
• seasoning

Method

Soak the peas as directed on the packet. Chop the onion, if used and soften in a little fat over low heat. add the peas and water or stock and the ham bone if used. Cook gently until the peas are soft about an hour. Remove the bone and strip off any meat. This should be diced into small pieces and reserved. Puree the peas in a blender. Adjust the seasoning, and add the diced ham. Serve with a swirl of cream or a sprinkling of chopped parsley on top.

Yield: 6 servings