French Canadian Yellow Pea Soup with Ham

I grew up loving this soup and I still do. There’s nothing more heartwarming in the winter than to enjoy the smells and taste of a delicious soup or stew!! This soup freezes very well. Enjoy with a warm loaf of your favorite bread! Ingredients: 1 lb. Whole yellow peas (soaked in water overnight) 1 leek, diced and cleaned 1 small/ medium onion, diced 4 large carrots, left whole (after 45 minutes of simmering, remove 2 carrots to dice and add to the final soup) 2 stalks celery , left whole 1/2 to 1 lb. Salt pork (smoked ham hock and/or ham bone can be added as well) Bouquet Garni of parsley stems and celery leaves wrapped and tied in cheesecloth 12 cups of water 1/4 to long grain rice