Old-Fashioned Pea & Ham Soup

Ingredients

1	Bacon hock (Main)
2 cups	Dried green peas (Main)
1 bunch	Fresh mixed herbs, such as thyme, basil, rosemary, chives
2 Ltr	Vegetable stock, or hot water
1	Onion, diced
1	Swede, small, diced
1	Carrot, diced

Directions

1. Wash the peas well and soak while preparing the other ingredients.
2. Place the hock in a large saucepan with the herbs, water and vegetables. Add the drained peas. Slowly bring to the boil. Remove the surface foam, cover and simmer for about 2 hours, until the meat and peas are tender.
3. Remove the hock, allow to cool a little then discard the skin and bones. Finely dice the meat.
4. Puree the soup then return to the saucepan with the meat. Simmer for about 15 minutes