Quick & Easy Split Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup split peas
1/4 cup long-grain rice or 1/4 cup brown rice
5 cups water
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, diced into small pieces
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt (don't skimp)
pepper
1 bay leaf

Preparation

Combine peas, rice, and water in a saucepan or small stock-pot; bring to boil then reduce heat; add vegetables, salt, pepper, and bay leaf to pot.
Simmer for one hour; discard bay leaf and, if desired, partially mash up the soft-cooked split peas with the back a large spoon. Alternately, you may puree the soup in a blender or food-processor before serving.
For more flavor, you may use broth or homemade stock instead of water, or use a combination of half tomato juice and half water. You may also add 1/2 teaspoon cumin for a southwestern flavor, OR (one or the other, not both) add a bit of rubbed sage for a \"smoky\" note.