If All Else Fails, Make Split Pea Soup

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Well, if all of your leftovers are gone, except for the ham bone, It's time to make Split Pea Soup. Split Pea soup is very easy to make with a bag of split peas, some carrots, celery, onions, garlic. and a bay leaf..  What results is a thick, porridge like concoction, that makes your kitchen smell wonderful, even if you cook it in the crock pot.  Have you ever heard the saying, "as thick as pea soup".  It  refers to the fog being "as thick as pea soup."  The soup thickens after it cools and is placed in the refrigerator. The soup can then be thinned with chicken stock, cream, or milk,  if need be.  Most people either like Split Pea soup or they don't.  there is no middle ground, when it comes to this soup So, if you are in the camp that likes Split Pea Soup, you'll like this recipe.

If you are watching your sodium, this is a special treat, and we didn't add any additional salt to the recipe. We haven't bought a ham, since my husband's bypass surgery,   They had a spiral ham at their Christmas luncheon where he works, so he said that he would take it home, make Split Pea Soup, and take the soup back to work.  Here is the recipe.

INGREDIENTS
1 16 oz bag of split peas, washed, sorted, and soaked overnight
8 c, of water
1 meaty ham bone
1 large onion, chopped
2/3 c  chopped carrots
2/3 c chopped celery
1 bay leaf

Wash peas. Combine, peas, ham bone, water, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf in slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour.  Turn to LOW and cook for 8-10 hours, longer if peas aren't tender.
Remove ham bone, chop meat, and return to slow cooker. Remove bay leaf from slow cooker.  Season with pepper. Enjoy!