This is a very easy pea and ham soup and is not expensive to make. I usually make a large pan and then freeze the pea and ham soup in either one or two people sized portions. You can use split peas for this recipe but I always look for shortcuts to save time.

I originally made this pea and hame soup recipe for my husband I don't like herbs and he loves them. I thought it would be a money saving meal, however my grown up children and young grand children love it so I have to make a humungous batch for everyone. it is quite thick so you can add more liquid when you reheat it

To make this pea and ham soup I either buy frozen mushy peas or use five tins of "value" mushy peas, both are equally good.for the ham I buy a ham shank or if I am really saving money a cheap tinned ham can be used.So these are the basic ingredients you will need to buy. I think most people have herbs in the larder and I always have onion and garlic in my store cupboard.

I avoid using salt because I think there is enough salt in the ham and mushy peas.If you are not using tinned ham then cook the hm shank until the meat is very tender, another tip which may reduce any saltyness, I tend to change the water the ham shank is cooking in twice.

I chop one onion finely and some garlic (the amount depends on individual taste, leave it out if you don' t like garlic)

When the ham is cooked his is the hardest bit because the ham will taste so good you have to fight with yourself not to eat it, I leave the meat in fairly large chumks

Leave the water you cooked the ham in to cool then skim off any fat. You will not need too much of this stock. Fry off the onions and garlic gently put them in a large pan put the peas in (if using frozen I don't defrost them)

.Put all of the meat in the same pan add mixed herbs either dried or fresh. Use about two pints of the liquid you cooked the ham in and add a chicken or veg stock cube add this to the pan turn on the heat and cook for about 30 mins. If the pea and ham soup looks too thick just add more liquid. How easy is that. Serve with hot crusty bread

If you like this recipe pop over to my hub for sausage rolls