Green Split-Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 strips bacon
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 lb. dried green split-peas
1 large smoked ham hock
7 c. water
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Toasted Croutons

Preparation

Fry bacon in 5-quart pan.
Remove bacon, drain and save 1 1/2 tablespoons grease.
Add onion, carrots and celery.
Cook over medium heat 3 minutes.
Add peas, ham hock, water, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer covered 1 1/2 hours.
Remove hock, cut off meat and return to soup.
Crumble bacon.
Garnish with crumbled bacon and toasted croutons.