Pea and ham soup in the slow cooker

Dear Husband wanted a slow cooker for Christmas and he got one, it's the best appliance I've used for along time!  This one you can brown onions/meat in the removable non-stick metal pan on the stove top then add all the other ingredients and pop it back into the slow cooker base.  Fantastic and so easy to clean.  

I made this fabulous soup last week and it was so good I have to share my recipe with you.

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
2 medium brown onions finely chopped
3 sticks of celery diced
3 carrots diced
500 g green split peas washed very well in cool running water until water runs clear
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 kg of ham hocks  (I used two and they were about 1.3kg)
2 litres water

Fry garlic and onion until soft then add all the other ingredients and cook in a slow cooker with the lid on for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low setting.  When cooked removed ham hocks and carefully with a fork and tongs remove all the tender ham and return it to the soup.  Serve with crusty bread and its a hearty complete meal for a cold winters day.  Enjoy!