Prior to marrying my wife Karen the only Split Pea Soup that I ever had was " Campbell's ! "   The reason was because my Mom never made homemade Split Pea Soup.   Today I still do eat the canned the " Campbell's Split Pea Soup " quite a bit for my lunch.

         However ..... when I want " some really good Split Pea Soup " I make the below recipe which was first made for me by my wife Karen.   After my first taste I fell in love for a second time ! ( first time with my wife of course )

         The problem was ..... it wasn't that often that we had a left over Ham Bone ..... So I came up with the idea for using Ham Hocks ( which my wife had never heard of ) which is how I made it the first time.

         Then, of course, I had to try making it in a " Slow Cooker " which is my favorite way to cook any meal that I can.   I then had to put my own " twist " on the recipe and it came out " Awesome ! " ( if I do say so myself ) .

You must have a Ham Broth Base & Seasoning mix to make this recipe !

You must use a slow cooker that is newer for this recipe !

See " slow cooker problem #1 " for more.

Ingredients:

•     1  ~  16 oz. bag of dried split peas
               ( I use " Hurst's HamPeas with a Ham flavor packet" when I can find them  ~  ( see Tip #1 for photo )
                ( Any other type " bag of Split Pea's " will also work )

•     1/2  ~  teaspoon of ground cloves  ~  ( or about 10 to 15 whole cloves  ~  " optional " but better with )

•     1  ~  tablespoon of celery seeds

•     1  ~  small to medium onion  ~  ( diced ).

•     1/3  ~  cup of shredded carrots cut into smaller pieces  ~  ( " optional " but better with )

•     1  ~  32 oz. box of Chicken Stock  -  ( or broth  -  or even vegetable stock )

•     5  ~  cups of water.

•     10  ~  teaspoons of Orrington Farm's Ham Broth Base & Seasoning  -  ( or other brand  -  See photo below )
            ( Ham Broth Base & Seasoning will give you that ham seasoning missing since you don't have a bone in Ham )

•     Some type of Ham to add to the soup itself to include one of the three below :

  •     2  ~  8 oz. Ham Steak Slice or other pre-sliced ham   ~  ( " See Tip #2 below )
      
    
  •     1  ~  Larger bone-in Ham Slice   ~  ( " See Tip #2 below )

•     Salt & Pepper to taste

    " To use later during Slow Cooking: "

•   1  ~  cup of dry Ditalini pasta.

Directions:

          ( " Note: " Only take the slow cooker lid off when directions call for it and at no other time )

1.   In a soup pot add the Chicken Stock ( or Chicken Broth, or Vegetable Stock ) and the 5 cups of water.

2.   Then add the celery seeds, salt and pepper, and the 10 teaspoons of Ham Broth Base & Seasoning to the soup pot.
      ( Adding the Ham Broth Base & Seasoning is a " Necessary Step " which helps develop the " Ham Flavor " to the soup )

3.   Then stir all the ingrediants it insure they are all mixed in.

4.   And then heat the soup pot just until it starts to boil.

5.   While pot is heating you can dice up your ham, onion, & carrots of choice and add it to the slow cooker.  ~  ( see Tip #2 )

6.   Then add your Split Peas and cloves to your slow cooker.
      ( If you found the Hurst's HamPeas add the " flavor packet " in this step )

7.   Once the stock and water are heated " carefully " pour it into the slow cooker and then stir to combine.

8.   Cover and cook on high for " 2 hours ".

9.   After the " 2 hours " take the lid off and stir with a large slotted kitchen spoon until the split peas are separated.
      ( I know its unusual to do this with a slow cooker but it helps to breakup the split peas )

10.   Put the lid back on your slow cooker and cook on high for " 1 more hour ".

11.   Then take the lid off again and add the Ditalini pasta and stir again mixing well.

12.   Put the lid back on your slow cooker, " turn your slow cooker to LOW " and cook for " 1 hour on low ".

13.   Take the lid off again ..... stir ..... and serve .....

    

   

          The reason I try to find and use " Hurst's HamPeas " is due to the fact that a " Ham Flavor Packet " is included with them which always adds that much more flavor to your " Split Pea Soup ! "  -  ( Note: Add the Flavor Packet in Direction # 2 above )

          The Hurst's Brand beans come in a lot of different variety's for multiple Ham Soups, Chili, Garlic Lemon Lentils, Italian Style beans, etc. and they can be found in the " Delaware Stores " and " New York Stores " noted below.

Go to their website to see the " type of beans " they have,
plus " some recipes " as well by clicking on their logo below:

                 

     

          Sometimes when I get a hankering for some good " Split Pea Soup " and if I don't have any type of " ham bone " to give me the base flavor ..... I go a completely different way ..... besides lately good smoked ham hocks have been hard to find for me ..... maybe it has something to due with the COVID-19 stuff .....

So I do one of the two options below :

• I buy " 2 " 8 oz. packs of " Hatfield Hardwood Ham Steak " that we normally find locally at Wal-Mart's and Food Lion.   In the Rochester, NY area they are available at " TOP'S ".   Other brands of ham steaks are also just as good .....
  
• I buy A larger bone-in " J.F. Martin & Sons Ham Slice "  ( see photo below )

         

---

or at ( russpickde@comcast.net )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~