Split Pea Soup

 This Recipe for Split Pea Soup has a long history. Nanny Lilly taught me how to make it she learned from her Mother in Poland. Split Pea Soup is a comfort food to me. I will bake some fresh bread and sit and enjoy this Split Pea Soup next to a nice warm fire. Enjoy xoxo

This Split Pea soup I adore and who would have thought that I would. Nanny Lilly use to make this soup and she won my palate over. I have such fond memories of this woman and with my cooking there is not a day that I not think of her and the incredible meals she would create.
No matter when you went to Nanny Lilly's home she always had food waiting or she would grab it out of the freezer. I know she is watching me and is proud! This is large batch cooking. You can cut this recipe in half. I Pressure Can for the year
 
                                                                  Ingredients


One ham bone with scraps
*Mine is frozen from the holiday dinner with ham scraps. I seriously tell neighbors to save their ham bone for me.
2 bags of split peas - 16 oz each - (cleaned and drained and soaked overnight )
8 + Quarts chicken broth/stock
1 finely chopped white onion
4 finely chopped garlic cloves
6 carrots chopped and finely diced
2 bay leafs 

Seasonings to taste including salt and pepper
 
Put your peas in a strainer and clean. Once cleaned put them into a  large bowl and let them soak for at least three hours or overnight.



Place your ham bone, ham pieces and broth into a large stock pot and cook on simmer for three hours.

If you plan on canning use Stainless Steel Pot. 

I take my time with this soup the longer it cooks the better the taste.

Once the stock is cooked I take my bone out and scrape the meat off and chop it. Removing any skin, grit or fat remaining.

I then replace the bone and the meat into the stock. I will then add my seasoning. Use the seasoning you like. I let people add salt and pepper to taste when they are serving themselves. 

I see a lot of recipes that call out for chopped onions and garlic. My garlic and onion are so small you would not know they are there except in taste. I like my soup thick and clean no bit's except for my ham and carrot.

Now add your carrot. Simmer your soup until it is the consistency you like. I keep an extra bag of peas just in case I want it thicker.

 
I use my immersion blender to blend the soup.


I let my soup sit overnight.
What ever we do not eat I pressure can the next morning.

Here is the link to Pressure Can your Split Pea Soup 

Soup is a great go to meal. You can freeze this soup also.