Ingredients:

• 8 cups water
• 1 smoked ham hock or smoked picnic ham bone plus 2 cups sliced ham, put aside.
• 2 cups split peas
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Put water in large pot and put in ham hock (or ham bone), peas & bay leaf; hard boil one hour.

Remove ham hock or bone. Allow peas to gently simmer until soft.

Add onion, celery and carrot and simmer for another hour.

Remove meat from ham hock (or take your two cups of diced picnic ham) and add to soup.
Also add thyme, cayenne, salt and pepper.

Gently simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1/2 hour.

Remove bay leaf and serve.

If too thick (it should be very thick) add extra water or vegetable or chicken broth.