Tanya Holland's Black-Eyed Pea Chowder

Ingredients

• 1 pound/455 g Rancho Gordo Black-Eyed Peas, picked over
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
• 2 medium celery ribs, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 6 cups/2 l chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme leaves
• ¾ teaspoon celery seeds
• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup/240 ml half-and-half
• ½ pound/225 g smoked pork, diced (optional)
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper