Pease Pudding

This is a picture of a VERY happy man! Here is Brent with the first container of pease pudding he has had for probably about 15 years. For the ignorant among you (as I was before I met Brent), here is my friend Wikipedia's definition of pease pudding:

Pease pudding, sometimes known as pease pottage or pease porridge, is a baked vegetable product, which mainly consists of split yellow or Carlin peas, water, salt, and spices, often cooked with a bacon or ham joint.
It is similar in texture to hummus and is light yellow in colour, with a mild taste. Pease pudding was traditionally produced in England, especially in the industrial North Eastern areas - although it is now widely available throughout the country, often in butcher's shops (due to the bacon connection). It is often served with ham/bacon and stottie cakes.

I remember Brent's Grandad making this for him but this was the first time I have ever made it myself and the ultimate compliment was "that tastes just like the pease pudding my grandparents used to make".

Personally, I used a ham shank and green split peas with just salt and pepper to taste and it was oh, so simple!