One of the joys of winter

One of my favourite things when its cold outside, and the fire is going for weeks on end, is big pots of homemade soup. Ive been making chicken soup for years, and the occasional batch of pumpkin (with varying degrees of success).  This winter I decided to try making Pea & Ham Soup.  It was a big hit. Like most things I cook, I'm not good at following a set recipe, and tend to trawl around a few variations of what I'm making and come up with a version of my own. I have been asked by a couple of people for this one, so though I may as well share it here.  This recipe fills (to the brim while the ham hocks are whole) my large oval slow cooker.

Pea & Ham Soup

3 Smoked Ham Hocks (If they are really big you may only fit two in your slow cooker)
1 1/2 packs green split peas
3 carrots - finely diced
3 sticks celery - finely diced
2 onions - finely diced
2 bay leaves
1/4 t mixed spice
pepper to taste
2 1/2 litres water

Rinse split peas and place in slow cooker.  Place ham hocks on top of split peas, and add the carrot, celery and onion. Pour over water and add spice, bay leaves and pepper.  Cover and cook on high with out stirring for at least 6 hours or until meat is falling from the ham hocks.  Remove ham hocks, cool and remove meat.  Discard fat, skin and bones, and add chopped meat back to soup.  Continue to cook until soup peas have broken down and the soup has thickened.