Split Pea Soup

Here's an oldie but goodie courtesy of my favorite Betty Crocker cookbook.  This simple, delicious, and belly-warming soup is an Eddie family favorite on cool winter days.  It's by far my favorite thing to do with leftover ham (and the ham bone!), but I'll also make it with diced ham as I did this week.  Split peas are so high in fiber and protein, while low in fat, making this a hearty, healthy meal.  Pair it with corn bread or serve alone.  I even let Peanut try some, and she loved it (of course, it's green!).  I usually make it on the stove, but this time I tried it in the slow cooker.

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. bag split peas, rinsed

- 8 cups liquid or 7 if using slow cooker (Betty recommends water, but I like to replace at least half the water with chicken stock)

- 1 c. chopped carrots

- 1 c. chopped celery

- 1 c. chopped onion

- 1 ham bone or about 1 c. of diced ham

- salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.  Rinse the peas.  Place in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Chop the veggies, add to the pot.

dice the onion

cut celery into slices...

then finely chop

cut carrots into match sticks...

then finely chop

2.  Add the ham, then pour in the liquid (I used 4 c. stock, 3 c. water).

3.  Add seasoning (we like to add LOTS of pepper, but I started mild with this batch so we could let Annalyn try it).

4.  Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, or veggies are soft and peas break down.  Remove ham bone, cut any remaining meat from the bone and add to soup.

5.  FYI - to make on the stove, heat peas and water to boiling in 4-quart Dutch oven. Boil uncovered 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour.  Stir in onion, celery and pepper. Add ham bone. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 1 hour 30 minutes or until peas are tender.

Remove ham bone; remove ham from bone. Trim excess fat from ham; cut ham into 1/2-inch pieces.

Stir ham and carrots into soup. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until carrots are tender and soup is desired consistency. (directions from:  Betty Crocker online)

printable recipe