Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 cups water
3 cups split peas, picked over and rinsed
1 lb ham steak, rind discarded, quartered
1 smoked ham hock
2 bay leaves
2 onions, chopped
1 celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Preparation

Combine water, peas, ham steak, ham hock, and bay leaves in slow cooker. Microwave onions, celery, carrots, butter and spices until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker. Cover and cook until peas are tender, 8 - 9 hours on low or 5 - 6 hours on high.
Cut meat from bone and ham steak into bite size pieces. Puree soup to nice consistency.