Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

There is nothing ever appetizing looking about a bowl of split pea soup.  My husband asked me to make this for him because he loved this soup as a kid.  I don't even like eating peas.  They are probably one of my least favorite vegetables and I still thought this soup was good.  Its very thick and hearty and great for a cold winter night that we are all too familiar with here in New Jersey.  This is an Emeril recipe published in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food 2011.  Enjoy your last February weekend!

Ingredients:
2 lbs dried split peas, picked over, rinsed and drained
2 boneless precooked ham steaks, sliced into small pieces
1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
1/2 red pepper, diced small
3 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
2 dried bay leaves
10 cups low sodium chicken broth

Chop onions, garlic, celery, carrots, and red peppers.  Set aside.  In a medium pot bring the chicken broth to a boil and then carefully pour it into a 6 quart slow cooker.  Add split peas, onion, carrots, celery, red pepper, garlic, thyme, bay leaves and sliced ham pieces.

Cover and cook on high until split peas are creamy about 6 hours.  Stir occasionally.  Discard bay leaves.

Ladle into soup bowls.

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