Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried split peas, rinsed
• 8 cups water
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 medium celery stalks, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 ham bone or 2 pounds shanks
• 3 medium carrots, large diced

Direction:

1. Heat peas and water to boiling in a large stock pot. Boil uncovered 2 minutes; remove from heat and cover.
2. Meanwhile chop the onion and celery.
3. After the peas have been soaking for an hour, add the onion, celery, pepper and ham bone.
4. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 1 hour 30 minutes or until peas are tender.
5. Remove the ham bone from the pot and take the meat off the bone; cut into bit sized pieces.
6. Stir the ham and carrots into the soup. Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
7. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until the carrots are tender and the soup is nice and thick.
8. Serve with crusty bread and butter!

Source: http://www.jolynneshane.com/homemade-split-pea-soup-recipe.html