Swedish Green Split Peas With Bacon

This is from "The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas". I made the entire "Swedish Winter Feast" for a past Christmas and it was wonderful! I'll post the other recipes next. The whole meal is: Swedish Corned Pork Roast, Swedish Sauerkraut, Swedish Green Split Peas with Bacon, Mashed Rutabaga, Turnip, and Potato & Sweet and Hot Mustard, served with Rye Bread. I expected not to like anything and ended up LOVING everything!

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb bacon, chopped
• 1  medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
• 1  lb  split peas, washed and soaked in 6 cups water for 6 hours-overnight
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 4  tablespoons butter (1/2 cube)

Directions

1. Brown the bacon in a frying pan. Remove the bacon and set aside. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add onion and saute until tender.
2. Drain peas and place in a 4 to 6 quart pot along with reserved bacon and sauteed onions. Add enough water to just cover the peas.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, about 1 1/2 hours, or until the water is absorbed and the peas are thick. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and add more water if necessary.
4. Stir in salt and pepper to taste and the butter.