12 oz  of dried peas
7 cups water
2 large ham hocks or  cooked ham or bacon
1 large onion chopped
2 bay leaves
some salt

 Combine in large pot 
boil gently for about 1 hour or  until peas are soft..
remove bones if this is what you used
(can remove bay leaves too)

I  add some chopped carrot up in this soup and cook them will all the rest, 

If you want you can put in blender and whirl till smooth, or use potato masher to smash all