Simple And Delicious Split Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 cups water
1 lb bacon, ham hock or 1 lb meaty ham bone
1 lb dried split peas, rinsed and sorted
1 cup carrot, diced
1 cup onion, diced
salt and pepper
1/2 cup milk (optional)

Preparation

Slice bacon into smaller pieces and fry on stove top.
Drain bacon leaving 2 tbsp bacon fat in pan. Set bacon aside.
Add onions and carrots to bacon fat and saute for 2 minutes.
Add to soup pot with 8 cups water and 1 lb split peas.
bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 35 minutes to 1 hour.
salt and pepper to taste.
puree half of soup and return to pot.
add 1/2 cup milk for a creamier soup.
add bacon and serve.