Ham and Split Pea Soup

I hate peas. Growing up, I had parents who belonged to the "Clean Your Plate" club style of eating. And understandably so--their own parents lived through the Great Depression, so you didn't waste perfectly edible (if slightly gross-tasting) food. However, I could not NOT stomach some of my mother's dishes, and once, I negotiated with my father to get out of eating her Hungarian short ribs. What did I have to eat instead? An entire can of peas--my dad bargained hard. It took me three hours, and I still to this day consider the trade a fair one--but I also still hate peas.

That said, I adore split pea soup. I know, I'm weird. But split pea soup delivers all the comforting qualities of any other cream-based soup with TONS of nutritional value--add to that how insanely easy it is to make, and you will love it too! Original recipe found here.

You will need:
16 oz. bag of dried split peas
2 cups of chopped ham (or the ham off a ham bone, if you have the time)
3 large carrots (peeled and sliced)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 ribs of celery (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic
1 Tablespoon of Lawry's seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram (note: original recipe called for one bay leaf--I just substituted this since I was leafless)
1.5 quarts HOT water

Are you ready for the simplicity of this recipe?
1) Rinse and sort your peas on a dish towel. (Bags of dried peas often still have a few small stones scattered among the peas, and you don't want to bite into these)
2) Spray a crockpot with non-stick spray. Layer the following into the crockpot in the following order:

• Rinsed split peas
• Ham
• Vegetables
• Spices
• Hot water

3) Do not stir. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours (4 if you still want some of the peas to maintain their shape, 5 if you want the peas completely broken down and creamy).

4) There is no step 4 because you're already DONE!

Note that this recipe can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the ham. Either way, enjoy a bowl of creamy split pea soup the next time you want a bowl of comforting and healthy deliciousness!