Hearty Split Pea Soup--a PERFECT Winter meal!

What's better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day?  

Staying home--simmer it on your stovetop.

Need to go out--put it in the crock pot and come home to a delicious meal!



OLD FASHIONED SPLIT PEA SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. bag dried split peas
1 32 oz. carton All Natural Chicken Stock, or 4 cups homemade stock
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 carrots, peeled and cut into coins
1 ham steak, cut into cubes
2 bay leaves
3 cups water
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large pot, OR crock pot add split peas.

Pour Chicken Stock over peas.

Turn crock pot on HIGH, or stove top on MEDIUM-HIGH heat.

Add potatoes, onion, garlic, carrots, ham and bay leaves.

Add 3 cups of water to cover everything.

Stove top: bring to a boil then turn to very low/simmer for about 3 hours.
Crockpot:  3 hours on high.

After 3 hours of cooking, stir everything together.   Remove the bay leaves.

Cook another half an hour, stir again.  Leave the lid off and the soup will thicken.

Add salt & pepper to taste.

Enjoy!