Slow Cooker Recipe: Split Pea and Ham Soup

For New Year's we decided to host a "Christmas" dinner but since our friends were so full of turkey from the December festivities, they requested a traditional ham dinner.  At first I grumbled since I LOVE turkey dinners, however, as in life, sometimes the good things are worth waiting for.

And that's when I discovered a gorgeous meaty ham bone leftover that was perfect for Split Pea and Ham Soup.  This is the perfect soup to put in the slow cooker and let it the peas soften with the ham and all the ingredients.  

I found this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe from the Whole Foods Market website.  My notes are in brackets.  I've made this twice from the ham dinner leftovers and it is 100% better with a ham bone (rather than diced ham).  So much more flavour:

Slow Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup

• 1 (16-ounce) package dried green split peas, rinsed (=2cups)
• 1 meaty ham bone, 2 ham hocks or 2 cups diced ham
• 1 cup sliced baby carrots 
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 cups chicken broth (*I used homemade chicken stock and my slow cooker was full at 4 cups)
• 
  
• Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on high 4—5 hours or on low 8—10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone.