Split Pea and Ham Soup

.... or as we affectionately call it 'Heather Soup'!

A few years ago my friend Heather made some pea and ham soup using the bone from her Thanksgiving ham. She served it to me one day for lunch when I took Kristen over for a play date with her daughter. Actually Kristen had some too (she was all of 3 yrs old) and she loved it. Later that day Kristen kept asking for 'Heather Soup'. I told Heather she would have to send me the recipe :-) She actually sent me two recipes, one for her soup made on the stove top, and another for a very similar one made in the crock pot. I've made both, and to me they both taste the same.

It's been a while since I made that soup, but after having ham last weekend for Easter I knew just what to do with the bone ;-)

So, here is what you need:

1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed
1 hambone and/or 2 c. diced ham
3 carrots, peeled & sliced
1 med. onion, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 tsp Thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
1 1/2 qts water * see below for adding stock.

You simply layer the ingredients in your crock pot. *Heather's original recipe used chicken broth, so for mine I poured one can of chicken broth in to my measuring cup then topped it up with water.

Cover and cook on high 4 to 5 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Freezes well.

It's that simple! and it tastes delicious.

same picture below, but I used the flash on the camera!