Braw lentil & veg soup with ham hock

Okay I forgot to take a pic of the soup, again, 'Doh!' And this lentil soup is braw, a Scottish version of lentil soup, made with left over ham hock and 'braw' pronounced braww means great, fab, brilliant, as they'd say over the border, and yes I know, another lentil soup, but this one is special. You see the lentils almost disappear into the soup adding a lovely flavour.

There's scant waste in our kitchen, The remnants of a cooked ham joint that had appeared from Asdas first we had with spuds and veg, then in a chicken, ham and leek pie, then the bone went into a lovely soup with the remaining scraps of ham too.

Please note that the use of garlic is banned in Scotland, Nicola won't let it over the border, she claims her pudding race will become bampots if they eat it. Overhead signs on the motorway advise you to stop at Gretna Gateway and dispose of in the garlic amnesty bins, before shopping at factory outlets for stuff you don't need.

So soften onions in a little butter, throw in chopped leeks, cubed pots and cubed swede, and finely chopped carrots, stir about for a bit then add about half a mug of red lentils, add chicken stock and half a cube of veg stock, bring to a simmer for ten mins or so then add your ham pieces, simmer another ten mins and then taste for seasoning. Simmer a bit longer and it's ready, but better the next day.