my first time making ham and split pea soup and what an AMAZING recipe!! I was nervous that mine wouldn't taste as good as my boyfriend's mother's and he says this soup is THE BEST he's ever had (yes - better than his mom's!) I followed the directions using chopped ham, added some potato cubes, bay leaves, and pepper to taste. about an hour into cooking I also added a can of summer sweet peas for looks, texture and color. I substituted most of the water for low sodium chicken broth and didn't have any troubles with saltiness (also a great option for people with blood pressure concerns). I didn't soak the peas and my soup cooked to a perfect consistency in just about 90 minutes on the stove-top at medium-low heat. stirring often helps keep a good consistency throughout cooking and prevents big clumps or sticking. Couldn't ask for a more simple and DELICIOUS recipe! also re-heats nicely on the stove or in the microwave for a quick and delicious meal. I added more veggies while re-heating to freshen things up. Also served with some garlic toast instead of adding garlic to the soup. Yummy and a definite staple recipe in my kitchen!

Reviewed On: Sep. 2, 2009