Split Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 c. water
1 lb. dried split peas (about 2 1/4 c.)
1 lb. smoked ham
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 medium stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Preparation

Heat water and peas to boiling in a heavy saucepan.
Boil 2 minutes and remove from heat.
Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Stir in ham, onion, salt and pepper into peas.
Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until peas are tender, about 1 hour. Skim fat, if necessary.
Remove ham, trim fat and bone from ham. Cut ham into 1/2-inch pieces.
Stir ham, carrots and celery into soup.
Heat to boiling, reduce heat.
Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes.
Serves 8.