Split Pea Or Lentil Soup

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 4 -6 slices bacon, diced (i like thick country bacon)
• 1 lb dried split peas or 1 lb lentils
• 1 leek, finely chopped (make sure you wash leeks very well, or they can be gritty)
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 1 turnip, diced
• 1 -2 garlic clove, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 -2 cup chopped cooked ham (optional) or 1 -2 cup hot dog, slices (optional)
• dry sherry (optional)
• mint leaf (optional)

Recipe

• 1 saute bacon until crisp.
• 2 add leek, celery, and pepper to the bacon and drippings. saute until veges are limp.
• 3 rinse peas or lentils. place in a deep, heavy dutch oven.
• 4 add veges from pan also carrots, turnip, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and chicken broth.
• 5 simmer slowly for 2 hours add chopped ham if you have it and warm through.
• 6 serve with 1-2 tbs. dry sherry and mint leaves per bowl.