Split Pea Soup Crock Pot Style

Ingredients:

*1 smoked Ham Hock

*8 cups Homemade Chicken Stock 

*1 package 16 ounce dried Green Split Peas, rinsed and drained

*2 cups sliced Carrots

*3 tablespoons Bottled Garlic

*Bundle of tied (kitchen twine) thyme Sprigs, around 8 sprigs

*2 large Whole Bay Leaves

*Freshly ground Sea Salt and Black Pepper

*2 large Yellow Onion, diced

*3-4 tablespoons Extra Light Olive Oil

*2 cups sliced Carrots

*13 ounces Smoked Turkey Kielbasa, cut in slanted pieces and sear in a cast iron pan

*Chopped Parsley, Garnish

Directions:

In a crockpot add liner for easy cleanup.

In a hot cast Iron skillet with olive oil, add onions and sauté 2 to 3 minutes.  Then add sliced carrots and sauté another  2 to 3 minutes.  Add the onions and carrots to a blender and blend until nearly smooth and add to the crockpot.

Add to the crockpot the ham hock, chicken stalk, green split peas, garlic, thyme bundle, bay leaves, salt and pepper.  

Cook on low, in the crock pot 3 to 6 hours. Note:  Add 1/2 cup water to the soup, only if soup thickens to much during cooking.

Remove the sprigs bundle/sticks and bay leaves and discard before serving.

Just before serving pan sear the sliced kielbasa.  Add to top of each split pea soup serving bowl, garnish with parsley.

Recipe adapted from food network Ina Garten

Enjoy!

Lindy