Canadian (Habitant) Yellow Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups dried yellow peas
2 quarts cold water
2 onions, chopped
1 -2 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 ham bone or 3 -4 slices salt pork, chopped
1 -2 bay leaf
salt and pepper
1 pinch thyme

Preparation

Place peas in a soup pot, cover with the cold water and soak overnight. Next morning add the chopped vegetables, ham bone and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer gently for 3 to 4 hours. Stir mixture occasionally and add a little boiling water to keep soup at the right consistency. Remove the ham bone and add seasonings. Amount of salt will depend on the saltiness of ham bone.
Note: If soup is served at once, it will need no binding. If to be chilled and set aside for later, add 2 tablespoons each, well creamed butter and flour, smoothed together and stirred into the simmering soup 10 to 15 minutes before removing from heat.