Smoked Ham Hock, Soup

Inspired by my sister Lorraine

Recipe Creator: Jennifer Walsh

The other day, I was visiting my dad when I found him standing in front of his overflowing fridge, completely overwhelmed by all the options. He turned around, handed me a smoked ham hock and said, “Take it.”

I looked at him and replied, “Alright, I’ll be back on Thursday with lunch.”

I knew my sister Lorraine had gifted it to him from one of the lovely market stalls she visits, so the pressure was on to create something delicious.

I might add, the last time I attempted a ham hock, pea and ham soup, I was cooking for both my mother and father-in-law (gasp), the result was a horrifying mess! They were both incredibly sweet, as they tried their very best to eat it, but I couldn’t bear to watch them suffer through another mouthful. I took the bowls straight out from under their graceful chins, and fed the whole lot to my dog Zoey who, unlike the rest of us, was having an brilliant day.

For some reason, as I began cooking this time around, everything seemed to flow. Maybe it was because of the lessons I’d learnt from my first disastrous attempt, or perhaps it was the smoky flavour of the ham hock Lorraine had purchased. Whatever it was, it sparked a creative flow and everything just felt easy.

And from it came my Smoked Ham Hock Soup, and it was absolutely delicious.

Believe me, if it weren’t, I’d be sure to tell you.

You’ll notice in my video that I served this soup with steamed rice. I do this for a couple of reasons: it helps entice the children to eat it, and it makes the soup more satiating. Of course, you can serve it in whichever way works best for you and your family.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/72dbbb_8d21bc15b10241f8bb4e39244846e84c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Smoked Ham Hock Soup demonstration.

I'm so proud to present this recipe to you xoxo

I hope you and yours enjoy this hearty soup as much as me and mine did. It’s a wonderfully comforting meal to share around the family table and, thankfully,

this batch received a much warmer welcome than my first.

From my kitchen to yours, I hope it brings a little warmth and comfort to your day.

Warm regards,

Jennifer Walsh xoxo

Healthy Habits with JenWalsh