UJ's Most Excellent Pea Soup

My poorly staged photo of the pea soup

Yesterday afternoon while doing the weekly grocery shopping I was in the soup aisle and came across a package of "Bob's Red Mill" brand "Premium Quality Green Split Peas."  The back of the package had a recipe for split pea soup that looked good...so I bought the package and upon getting home made pea soup.  Except I did not follow the recipe and changed it so much...that I claim it now as my own recipe.  You know, I made a pretty darn delicious and hearty pea soup.  I am posting this recipe on my blog to share...and to write it down before I forget how I did it.  By the way...if you can not find "Bob's Red Mill" peas...any brand will do.

Here's the recipe:

1 lb. split green peas (a very full 2 cups)
3 slices thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 to 1 1/2 pounds of ham, cut into bite size pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium to large carrots, peeled and shredded
3 stalks of celery, diced
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 to 1 tsp salt (remember there is salt in the ham and in the bacon)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp Marjoram
1/4 tsp Thyme
1/4 tsp ground Allspice
1 Bay Leaf
5 cups unsalted vegetable stock
3 cups water

In a large soup pot (mine is 8 quart), brown the bacon bits over medium heat, remove from pan with slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.

To the bacon drippings add the potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery and cook over medium heat until wilted.

Add of all of the rest ingredients and spices to the pot (including the bacon pieces and the ham).  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Cover tightly reduce heat to the point where the soup is simmering and then allow to simmer for 3 hours.

Enjoy...makes 6 to 8 servings.  BTW, I enjoyed it so much I had two bowls!!!