Split Pea Soup & Ham - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups yellow onions, chopped
salt
freshly ground black pepper
crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 bay leaf
1 lb dried split peas, picked over and rinsed
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 ham steak, cut into 1 inch pieces
hot sauce (optional)

Preparation

In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, heat the oil.
Add the onions.
Season with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper.
Saute for 2 minutes.
Add the garlic, bay leaf, and split peas and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the broth and ham.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or more, until the peas are tender.
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Remove the bay leaf and discard.
Add the milk and, using a hand-held blender or potato masher, process until smooth.
Add the hot sauce if desired and serve hot.