Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup
From the Kitchen of Stacey

16 oz dried green peas, rinsed (practical tip...rinsing the night before may result in a 16 oz brick of dried peas the next morning)
1 meaty ham bone (optional)
3 carrots
2 stalks chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup fresh parsley (or two tsp dried)
<1 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 quarts hot water or broth (I use water with the ham bone and chicken stock when I leave out the ham)

Soak peas in water overnight (or just throw them in dry and cook longer). Add the other ingredients and cook until the peas are soft and the ham falls off of the bone. Set aside the ham and about a cup of the peas for texture. Blend the rest of the ingredients and mix them with the ham and peas. Viola, you have split pea soup!

*If starting with dried peas, cook on high 4-5 hrs or low 8-10 hrs.
**A good crock pot recipe.