Hearty Split Pea Soup

Team this up with a nice loaf of warm bread and you have a whole meal! Thick and satisfying!

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package  dried split green peas
• 4  cups water
• 2  cups chicken broth or 2  cups vegetable broth
• 1⁄2 cup  cooked finely cooked ham (optional)
• 1  large potato, peeled and diced
• 3  medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1  celery, sliced
• 1  small onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
• 1  bay leaf

Directions

1. Rinse split peas in cold water.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan; bring to boil.
3. Reduce heat and cover.
4. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 1-1/2 hours.
5. Remove bay leaf at end of 1-1/2 hours.
6. If soup is too thick, add enough water or chicken broth until soup reaches desired consistency. Soup thickens upon standing.