Semi- Homemade Split Pea and Ham Soup

All the ingredients.

We are really into the cold here- June 21^st was the first day of winter for us. It sure is cold and having nice warm, comfort food is a must!

I have never really made soups before, but I have made split-pea twice since we have been here. I adapted our recipe from this web site, and I also used some of the tips in the comments section. I also have been inspired for a long time by Sandra Lee’s Semi-homemade recipes (this is the type of cook I am).

Ingredients (really, just add however much you want):

500 g Split peas

Knorr chicken bullion cube

Onion (I put in about half)

Ham (I put in two thick slabs)

Bay leaves (I put in 2.5)

Garlic (I put in 4 cloves)

Bag of vegetables (mostly root vegetables)

Salt and Pepper

Water (at least 1400ml, if not more).

I first sautéed some onion- as much as you want (really, I seared them black on accident, but you won’t see it with all the green!), and added cubes of ham (I can’t find a “ham bone” where I shop).

I cut off the fatty parts of the ham.

I added 400 ml hot water and a cube of Knorr chicken bullion.

Washed peas.

I washed the peas (which I did NOT do last time- hey, I’m still here!) and added them. The bag was 500g.




I added 2.5 bay leaves (2 big and one tiny) and 4 cloves of garlic.
Season with salt and crushed pepper to taste (you may add some later too).

Great beginnings.

I added 800 ml more of water.  It simmered for an hour and then I added a package of fresh “soup mix” made up of such good things as turnips, pumpkin, broccoli, potato, carrot, leek, cauliflower, and celery. I did this to add more vegetables and make it last.

Look at all those vegetables!

Cover and cook for about another hour. I added more water, but not enough because I burnt the bottom a tad. I wasn’t in the kitchen watching it like a hawk. I also did this last time, and I learned that as long as you don’t scrape up the bottom of the pot, you’re fine!

Final result.

 This recipe made at least eight bowls of soup.  It is very good as leftovers- you may want to add some water when re-heating to make it "soupier."

Enjoy!


Here are the hops and linkys that I will be participating in this week! Please check them out and explore some great blogs. Like this one.


P.S.- Here is my hubby's blog.



Song of the post: Glamorous by Fergie of the Black Eyed PEAS (yes, I went there!).