Foodie Blogroll

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Split Pea Soup (slow cooker)

It is rather chilly for Florida this time of year. Usually our summer-like weather lasts through the end of October...I know this because you can never dress a child in a Halloween costume that is long sleeved it is just too warm still. It is nice that we can turn off the AC and open the windows, and actually sit out on the lanai without having to jump into the pool.

The temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees over night, then slowly works it way back up. We are dry and sunny so that helps. The kids at school still come in shorts and short sleeves and I knew I would have to get that box of long sleeves and sweatshirt out from the top shelf in the clinic. That where everyone comes when they need shoes for P.E. because they wore flip-flops, or a pair of shorts because theirs ripped or sweatshirt because their mom didn't check the weather forecast. :D

So Friday I had this boy come in from P.E. complaining about his legs are itchy from the cold weather, and as a matter of fact he was itchy everywhere....so I asked how I could help him...he just wanted some calamine lotion (it's magic you know). The funny part is he asked me if he could get frost bite...I told him not in 70 degree weather so he was pretty safe! :) Ha! Florida kids!





To take the chill off from you... soup is a good start! This is one of my favorite split pea soups, I've made it many times. I found the recipe in Parade magazine years ago, it is for a crock pot or slow cooker. I have made it stove top too, both ways are good, you just have to make it the way that works best for you!


Ingredients:
2 carrots
2 ribs of celery
1 parsnip (I used 2)
1 onion (I used shallots)
1 leek (3 inches of green left on) I think I used 2
1 ripe tomato
1 ham hock (Optional - I never use this I just dice up some smoked sausage or leave it out if you want it vegetarian)
1 3/4 cups dried split peas
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
4 cups defatted chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
4 cups water
salt and pepper
chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

Method:
Cut all of the vegetables into 1/4 inch dice and place them in a crock pot. Add all of the remaining ingredients except salt, pepper and parsley. Cover and cook high for 7 hours. Remove the ham hock and let cool slightly so you can shred any meat from the bone and return the meat to the pot. Season with salt and pepper then stir in the chopped parsley. Make sure you remember to remove the bay leaf before serving.


This time I made it in my dutch oven and with a little oil in the pot I sauteed the onion, celery, carrots, parsnips and leeks for about 5-10 minutes. I like to then add the seasoning, I was a little generous with the measuring and I might of added some marjoram and garlic too. Next add the diced sausage then the tomato. I added 4 cups of broth and 2 cups of water, and cooked it for about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Then add the salt and pepper and add more water when necessary...make it as soupy as you like it or as thick. Stir in the parsley right before serving.




I just sprinkled the cilantro on top, and I am sure my daughter had sour cream on top of hers...


I like soups with a small dice, the peas are well incorporated into the soup so the veggies stand out. Yum, it just seems to warm you up nicely!

27 comments:

  1. I am sure this soup is ultra flavorful! Look at all the wonderful ingredients used.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love this kind of soup; our temeperature in down to -0 every night ; we need comfort.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your soup looks delicious! I would have lots of cilantro too! My slow cooker is under-utilized! Got to change that! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the look of this soup, have not used split peas in savory soup before, sounds delicious! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lyndsey, you're right, calamine lotion is a magic. I always had a bottle and kept it in my fridge.
    Love your split peas soup, looks very comforting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. looks delish!

    in contrast to Halloween in Florida - in Alaska you frequently have to buy the Halloween costume a couple sizes larger to accomodate wearing a full body snowsuit under it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this soup Lyndsey look absolutely nice! gloria

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like how split peas thicken up the soup and make it more wholesome too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Perfect soup for this chilly weather! I love split pea soup.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unfortunately it never waits that long to get cold here in the northeast, so soup always sounds good to me! I love this rendition of split pea soup!

    ReplyDelete
  11. lyn, i can imagine how nice to have these bowl of hot soup, open up all the windows and enjoy the breezing wind!! Luxury!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lyndsey, your split soup looks delicious, love the idea of using the slow cooker. So comforting, perfect for this time of the year.
    Hope you have a great week ahead :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. HA! I'm right there with him. I've been freezing for the last two days. Maybe I HAVE frost bite! I mean, it did get down to 72 yesterday evening :)

    Awesome soup! Great recipe for me to break in my new crock pot with!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nothing takes off chill like homemade soup. I love the idea of using the slow cooker for this - it would just fill the home with welcoming aromas.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think I need to buy a slow cooker, I get the feeling I'm missing out.
    Beautiful soup!
    *kisses* HH

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm making soup for dinner but I wish this is my dinner instead of mine! Looks delicious Lyndsey!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your soup looks delicious and Bill would love it. I love soups with ham hocks and the slow cookie works perfectly for this.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Don't tell my Mom but this looks way better than hers! It's getting pretty cold here too - need some of your delicious soup to warm me up!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lindsey-I have made split pea soup for years...but never packed with all these yummy goodness, including parsnips. The color, the texture, and the flavor is absolutely divine!

    I do agree with you on the temperature here in Florida...and I am on the South side. Temperatures have dropped, especially at night, and early AM...I haven't used my AC in almost one week. A nice change...and this is our fall weather this year. It wasn't like this last year. Very refreshing for a change!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Split pea soup is one of my favorite soups. My husband would love the parsnips in it. I like the weather when you can open up and enjoy the fresh air.
    See you soon.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sonia - love the comfort!

    Quay Po - Thanks, one of my stand-bys

    Rita - Brrrr...that's way too cold for me!

    Kitchen Flavours - I just got a larger slow cooker a couple of years ago, so now I have no excuse!

    Jeannie - You should try it!

    Ann - We also have magic ice...that works on anything!

    Susan B - Yes how different the holiday is down here, of course we don't have those great pumpkin patches to visit either.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Slow cooker and soup..i want nothing else this season :0..yummy and comforting

    ReplyDelete
  23. looks so comforting, esp with the cold weather these days!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Split pea soup is one of my all time favorite fall and winter soups....yum!

    ReplyDelete
  25. It looks like you have some soup weather. Not us -- still waiting for the heat to break. We miss soups in the summer, and look forward to being able to make them again. Isn't it nice to have something like this to look forward to!

    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  26. This soup sounds really good with your Syria Bread. Yummmm....
    Kristy

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you, please share your ideas, tips, stories or any questions or comments. Thanks for stopping by...