Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb (2 1/4 cups) dried green split peas
• 2 qt water
• 1 (about 1 1/2 lb) meaty ham bone or 2 ham hocks
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme or marjoram
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 (about 1 cup) carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks (about 1 cup) celery, chopped

Before you start

• Sort and rinse the split peas.

Directions

1. Bring to a boil: dried green split peas, water, meaty ham bone or 2 ham hocks, onion, dried thyme or marjoram, bay leaf, salt, black pepper.
2. Cover, simmer 1 1/2 hr, stirring now and then: step 1.
3. Add, simmer uncovered 30 to 45 min until thick: step 2, carrots, celery.
4. Remove bone, dice meat and return it, discard bay leaf: step 3.