Split Pea Soup

I love this soup!!

Using a ham bone that I had thrown in the freezer a month or so ago, this soup is economical, satisfying and very filling. 

Serve it with bread or buns for a complete meal.

Split Pea Soup

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10 cups water

1 package split green peas -- about 2 1/2 - 3 cups

1 onion chopped

3 carrots grated or cut finely

Chicken soup mix or Oxo or Bovril to taste ( I use around 3-4 tbsp)

1 clove garlic minced

2-3 bay leaves

1/2 tsp pepper

Whatever ham that is on the bone ( try to save a couple of cups of meat diced)

   * if you don't have a ham bone, just use 2-3 cups diced ham

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Boil ham bone in a large pot with the bay leaves and water

Simmer for an hour 

Take out bone and bay leaves. 

Let bone cool and take off meat to add to soup-- dice meat before adding to soup.

To water add onion, carrot, chicken bouillon, garlic, pepper and of course, the split peas.

Add in diced ham

Simmer covered for 2 hours until the peas are very soft and mushy.

Stir occasionally.

Serve with bread or buns if you like.

This soup is even better the next day, and it's darn good the first day!!!