Split Pea and Ham Bone Soup

By deanarrca

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons butter or vegtable oil, or bacon drippings
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 ham bone with meat pieces
• 8 cups water
• 1 -poun d package split peas, rinsed in warm water and drained
• 3 tablespoons barley
• 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 or 2 medium potatoes, optional
• 16 -ounc e can diced tomatoes, add juice and all
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Place bacon drippings in a large soup kettle and allow to get hot. Add onions, saute until soft.

Add ham bone, water, peas, barley, celery, carrots, thyme and soy sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. If soup should be too watery at this point, peel and shred 1 or 2 potatoes and add to pot.

Add tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 hour or more.

Remove ham bone and meat. Cut up meat left on bone and add to soup with extra scraps you may have. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.