Main Dish Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. split green peas
1/2 to 2 c. diced celery
1/2 to 1 c. diced onion
1/2 to 1 c. diced carrots
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
5 c. water or ham broth
4 c. canned mixed vegetable juice (such as V-8)
2 ham hocks

Preparation

Simmer ham hocks 2 hours and let stand.
Remove hocks from broth.
Let cool.
Remove fat from broth and meat from bones.
May be done day before making soup.