It's going to be cold this weekend....

It's going to be cold this weekend and I'm sure your busy getting ready for the holidays.  Therefore, I have chosen to share my Split Pea Soup recipe today.  It seems rich and creamy but is actually easy to make and fairly inexpensive.  In my family, we always have simple vegetable soups the couple of days before Christmas to remind us that even if times are hard, there can be great comfort from the simple things. Plus cooking with your crock pot frees up your time to spend with people you love the most.  So, to that end, I hope you enjoy this...

Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

16 oz dried split peas

1-2 cups diced cooked ham

1 cup diced carrots

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 stalks chopped celery

2 garlic cloved, crushed with salt to a paste

1-2 tsps dried thyme, I always soak mine in oil for a few minutes

½ tsps. Salt and pepper

Chicken Broth to fill the crockpot 3/4 full

1 brick of cream cheese, softened

Put everything but cream cheese in the crock post on high and cook covered 4-5 hours.

Stir every hour or so.  After 5 hours, taste to make sure that all of the peas are well done---a bit mushy. If it looks like the liquid is getting low while cooking, add more broth.

Cube cream cheese and drop in.  Stir and continue cooking for another hour, stirring often to break down all the veggies and make sure the cream cheese is all mixed in.  It should have a velvety texture.

I serve it with cornbread croutons.