Jan 03, 2011
Super good base recipe. I cook my leftover hambone (with meat attached) in a crock pot (with water to cover) on low overnight. Of course I add bay leaves, onion, garlic cloves, rosemary, etc. for added flavor. Or simmer in a stock pot all day and proceed to what I do next: I pour cooked stock (over a fine mesh strainer) into a large bowl or pot, refrigerate until fat solidifies on top & remove it. (After the ham bone cools, I remove all useable meat.) Discard all the leftover stock goop. I simmer rinsed/cleaned split peas in the defatted ham stock (8 - 10 cups) for an hour with 1/2 C diced celery & onion. Then, I add 2 cups diced potatoes, a bay leaf, another clove of crushed garlic & a dash of liquid smoke. After another hour; I add 1 C. diced carrots & reserved ham (& more diced ham from leftovers) and simmer on low until peas all broken down & carrots are soft. I then I add 1 sm can of Evap milk for body and simmer for a few more minutes. Of course you can add or detract whatever spices/herbs and I added a tsp of McCormicks Carribean Jerk Seasoning to give more spice/earthiness to my soup. Great recipe you can alter to your own tastes! A splash of lemon or lime juice added before serving gives the soup a note of acidity as well. I know, I changed this up some but, I can't help myself, LOL.
—CantHelpMyself
