Vegetarian Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

This is a healthy alternate to canned soup that is high in sodium. I found this recipe originally on the Nesco website and adapted it for my taste and for use in a crock pot.

• Ready In: 6 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  onion, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2  celery ribs, chopped
• 2  carrots, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) bag  dried split peas, rinsed and cleaned
•  water (see below)
• 1  cup  regular uncooked long grain rice
• 1⁄4 cup reduced fat margarine
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat fry pan and add oil, then onion, garlic, celery, and carrots.
2. Saute vegetables until soft.
3. Add sauteed vegetables to 6-quart crock pot.
4. Then add split peas and enough water to half full capacity.
5. Cover and cook on high for four hours until peas are tender.
6. Stir in rice and recover. Cook rice for another two hours until rice is tender. Add additional water if necessary to keep it at about half full capacity.
7. Before serving, add pepper and margarine and stir until melted.