French Canadian Pea Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb dried split peas
1 meaty ham bone
8 cups water
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrot, diced
2 slices cooked bacon
1/2 cup half-and-half cream or 1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter

Preparation

Rinse peas.
In heavy pot mix peas, ham bone, onion, salt, pepper and onion with 8 cups of water.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours stirring often.
Remove ham bone from heat and chop meat.
Return meat to pot, add vegetables and simmer 30 minutes.
Add cooked crumbled bacon, cream and butter.
Heat through and serve.