Recipe: Split Pea Soup with Ham

Split Pea Soup with Ham
Don't toss out that ham bone. Use it to make stock for this soup. The two kinds of stock really makes this soup exceptional.

1 lb split peas
8 cups ham stock
8 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 tsp thyme
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 medium potatoes, diced
2 cups diced ham or smoked sausage
soy sauce
tabasco sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse split peas and soak in water for 1 - 2 hours. Place in a large pot with the ham stock and chicken broth. Add bay leaf, thyme, and onion. Simmer, partially covered, for 1 1/2 hours.

Add ham, potatoes, carrots, celery and simmer for an additional 1 - 2 hours, or until the peas have cooked into a smooth soup. Season with soy sauce, tabasco sauce, salt and pepper to taste.