Split Pea Soup to warm on a cold day!

I think taking pictures is one of my favorites things to do besides cook or maybe bake... And I have to say that Split Pea Soup is one of our favorites soups!  It is easy, cheap, hearty, and healthy!  But it is not photogenic at all!  It does not look pretty when taking a picture of it.  Green mash is what I think of but if one just closes their eyes and takes a bite the image of it will go away because it tastes so good!  The secret to this split pea soup is that I put a sweet potato, onion, carrots and celery in it to help enhance the goodness of the soup!  It is a very tasty soup and my kids do not mind eating it.  It is helpful when they eat the foods I make.  As long as it is not spicy they will eat anything!

See not that glorious of a picture... but when making the soup it does help to know what it shall look like in the end!

I prepare the vegetables (pictured here is an onion, 3 carrots, and 3 celery stalks) by using my onion/vegetable chopper so it is quicker and all of the pieces are the same size.  And I like to saute them (use a 6 quart pot to cook the soup) before adding the seasonings and split peas.  I use 1/2 - 1 cup of water to saute and saute for 10 minutes on medium high and covered.  (Split peas cook very quickly so in order to avoid split pea casserole, as Paul would say, I like to saute the vegetables ahead of time so they do not take very long to cook once the split peas have been added.) 

Just another picture here with the sweet potato on top.  I saute all of the vegetables together.

Once the vegetables have been sauteed for 10 minutes I add the seasonings and the split peas and then the water.  I use my homemade chicken - like seasoning, nutritional yeast (good B vitamins), dried parsley, salt and garlic powder.  Stir well to incorporate everything together.  And bring to a boil and then cook over low heat covered for 20-30 minutes or until the split peas are to desired tenderness.  

Split Pea Soup

1 large onion, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 large sweet potato, chopped

2 TBS chicken-like seasoning

2 TBS nutritional yeast

1 TBS dried parsley

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 - 1 tsp salt 

1 lb (2 cups) split peas

6-8 cups of water (use judgment the more water the more brothy)

1. Heat a 6 quart pot with 1/2 - 1 cup of water.  

2. Prepare vegetables and saute vegetables in the pot of water for 10 minutes on medium high.

3. Add seasonings, split peas, and water.  Stir well to incorporate ingredients together.

4. Bring to a boil.  Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until desired tenderness.

5. This makes about 8 large bowl fulls and goes well with a green salad and corn muffins.

Enjoy!