Cauldron Soup

OK, I admit it, this is regular soup with a fun name served in a black cauldron. But split pea soup is a perfect Halloween soup because it already is green and lumpy. Exactly how I imagine a witch's brew. In my family, we love to have this soup on a cold day, especially because you make it in the crock pot and your home will be filled with warm, delicious smells all day. Plus, it's loaded with vegetables, which is a nice change after all that Halloween candy going around.

Serves: 4
Start to Finish: slow-cooker recipe
Recipe By: Wholefoods Market

Ingredients:

1 (16-oz) package dried green split peas, rinsed
1 ham hocks or 1 cup diced ham
1 cup sliced baby carrots
1 cup chopped yellow onion (approx. 1/2 onion)
2 ribs celery, chopped (Chop these up really small. Celery doesn't turn to mush in a crock pot quite like carrots or peas so you will have big chucks if you leave them large.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Directions:

1. Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last.
2. Do not stir ingredients.
3. Cover and cook on high 4—5 hours or on low 8—10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone. (My slow cooker is tiny so every recipe I have ever made in it cooks in about half the time. This recipe only took me 4 hours on low. Go figure.)
4. Serve with warm rolls ... Mmm Mmmm