Instructions

• Melt butter over medium heat, then add in the onions, carrots, and celery. Season with pepper, and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add in garlic, stir, and sauté for an additional minute, until fragrant.
  3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 onions , 2 carrots , 2 stalks celery , 3 cloves garlic
• Add in split peas, broth, water, spices, ham bone and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for 60-90 minutes, until soup has thickened.
  16- ounce dried split peas, 6 cups chicken broth, 2 cups water, 2 potatoes , 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried sage, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1 meaty ham bone, 1 bay leaf
• Remove ham bone from soup, and transfer to cutting board. Remove meat from the bone, and the meat back to the soup, adding additional diced ham to make two cups.
  2 cups diced ham
• Serve immediately, topped with croutons if desired.
  Garlic Butter Croutons