Combine all in pot, add cold water or chicken broth to barely cover. Simmer until peas/lentils are tender and soup is thick, 1 1/2- 2 hours.
Remove ham bone, keeping good pieces of meat to add back in to soup.
Add salt to taste, remove bay leaf. Add sherry, if desired.
* if no ham bone is available, can use 1/4 pound ham or sausage