I made this during the week. It was so good I had to share.

INGREDIENTS

7 cups chicken broth (no salt)

One ham bone and 5 oz of diced smoked ham

yellow onion

1 large carrot

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove of garlic

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Start by cutting off the ham bone from that spiral ham or smoked ham you made last night. I usually make at least one spiral ham a year. If i do now have a spiral ham you can cheat and use a good quality ham steak.

Dice the ham and set aside. Dice 1 small to medium size onion. add to a large pot with the oil and begin to simmer cook. Dice the carrot and add to onion. cook both until the onion is translucent. Add the ham and fry the ham in the oil with the onion and carrot for a few minutes. Now add 1 large clove of chopped garlic. cook on low one more minutes. Breath in the yummy aroma. Now add 5 cups of chicken stock. When I do not have homemade chicken stock I use 5 cups of cold water and 1 tablespoon of better then bullion. Turn up the heat to high and bring to a boil. Cook until the chicken stock begin to reduce by 1/2 to 1 cup (leaving for cups of broth. add 1 pound of split peas. cook until the split peas are soft and fall apart when the soup is stirred. About one hour. Add salt and pepper to taste.

NOTES: Serve with your favorite flavor croutons