Split Pea Soup, Slow Cooker

By seamline

We made this today, with just a few modifications: -Added a pinch of dried thyme -Added about 1/2 tsp minced garlic -Added 1 bay leaf (removed before eating) We used a ham bone with a decent amount of meat on it. Our slow cooker is probably only 3.5 or 4-quart, and was quite full once we got all the ingredients in. I thought it wouldn't cook properly, but we cooked on high for about 7 hours, and it was fabulous! So simple, and yet so tasty. I added a good bit of black pepper after the fact, since I like mine that way. Thanks for a great recipe! This one will stay in our rotation!

Ingredients

• 7 cups water
• 1 (16 ounce) package dried split peas, rinsed and sorted (2 1/4 Cups)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/4 inch slices (1 1/2 Cups)
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped (1 Cup)
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 ham bone or 2 lbs ham shanks or 2 lbs smoked pork hocks

Preparation

Step 1

Mix all ingredients except ham in 5 qt slow cooker, then add ham.
Cover and cook on low heat 8 to 10 hrs or on high heat 6 to 7 hours until peas are tender Remove ham from cooker; place on cutting board.
Pull meat from bones, using 2 forks; discard bones and skin.
Stir ham into soup.
Stir well before serving.