Mimi's Split Pea Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons butter (optional) or 2 tablespoons margarine (optional)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 large carrots, washed and coarsely chopped
• 1 celery rib, finely chopped
• 1 lb dried split peas
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 quarts cold water or 2 quarts chicken broth or 2 quarts vegetable broth
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (optional)
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and 1-inch cubed
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 1 ham hocks (optional) or 1 smoked turkey wings (optional)

Recipe

• 1 combine all ingredients in a large stock pot.
• 2 bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer, covered, for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until peas are soft. add potatoes and barley the last 25 minutes of cooking time.
• 3 stir from bottom occasionally and skim foam off top if it accumulates.
• 4 once peas, potatoes and barley are tender, remove pot from heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
• 5 if using ham hock (or turkey wing), remove from soup, let cool and cut meat from bone. finely chop meat and set aside.
• 6 ladle soup in batches into a blender or processor.
• 7 blend/process 2 to 3 seconds only.
• 8 return soup to pot, stir in ham (or turkey).
• 9 reheat (if necessary) and serve.