Left Over Ham and Pea Soup

OK, this has got to be the easiest soup ever and so delicious!  I boiled up a ham bone that was left over from our Thanksgiving glazed ham - you know the one baby!  The Costco red packaged special.  It is addictive and so fabulous in a soft bread sandwich the next day too....oh, with some original Dijon....perhaps a little cheese.  For me the best is plain and simple! OK, let's get back to the soup and keep it simple.

Put your sliced ham meat aside.  Fill up a large pot of water with 8 cups of water, toss in the ham bone and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, turn down and simmer for a couple of hours to really flavor up the water.

In a separate pan add 2 tbsp. of butter and melt.  Then add 1/2 a chopped onion, 2 peeled and diced carrots, 2 chopped celery,.3 minced garlic cloves and a bay leaf.  Once all the veggies are soft, add 1 lb. of dried peas and saute for another two minutes.  Pour all the veggies into the soup pot, keeping the ham bone in, put a lid on it and simmer for 1 hour.

Stir occasionally.  If soup is too thick, add more water to it.  Season with salt and pepper, add chopped ham and garnish with pea shoots and perhaps a little swirl of whip cream or sour cream too if you like.