2 cupssplit dried peas
6 cupswater
1 lbham bone or ham pieces
1/2 cupcelery leaves
1medium onion
5pepper corns
1bay leaf

Night Before

1. Bring water and peas just to a boil
2. Remove from heat and let sit overnight

Next Morning

1. Skim off & discard froth from pea & water pot
2. Empty peas & water into crock pot
3. Add more water, if needed, to make 6 cups water in crock pot
4. Add ham bone, or chop ham into pieces & add to pot
5. Chop onion & celery leaves: add to pot
6. Add pepper corns & bay leaf
7. Cook on low for 10 to 12 hours, or until peas are soft and flavors blended
8. If using a ham bone, remove bone. Strip meat from bone and add to soup
9. If you like your pea soup chunky, you’re done!

Optional: Smoothing the Soup

1. Once the soup is cooked, remove ham pieces
2. Pour into blender, and blend until at desired consistency
   (Note: Hold the lid on your blender, or you’ll have pea soup all over the kitchen!)
3. Mix blended soup and ham pieces
4. Serve