Creamy Split Pea Soup

By Reneeb

Ingredients

• 1 lb. bacon, diced, crisply cooked and 2 to 3 T. drippings reserved
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 8 c. water
• 16-oz. pkg. dried split peas
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 3 cubes beef bouillon
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 c. half-and-half

Preparation

Step 1

Heat reserved bacon drippings in a large soup pot; sauté onion and celery over medium heat until tender. Add remaining ingredients except half-and-half; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 45 minutes, until peas are very tender. Discard bay leaf. Fill a blender 3/4 full with soup; blend to purée. Return to soup pot; stir in half-and-half. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, until heated through. Serve with reserved bacon on top. Serves 8.