WONDERFUL SPLIT PEA SOUP

SPLIT PEA SOUP

OK, I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE MOST GLAMOROUS SOUP OUT THERE, BUT IT IS JUST GOOD OLE DOWN HOME GOODNESS.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE A MUST WHEN MAKING THIS SOUP.
FIRST, USE A HAM BONE IF YOU HAVE ONE. IT MAKES THE TASTE JUST AMAZING. NOW IF YOU CAN SETTLE FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN AMAZING YOU CAN USE HAM HOCKS, AND IF YOU CAN SETTLE FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN LESS THAN AMAZING YOU CAN USE SMOKED PORK JOWLS, WHICH IS WHAT I HAD ON HAND AND REALLY I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW GOOD IT WAS. BUT STILL GO FOR THE HAM BONE IF YOU CAN.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RECIPES WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T MEASURE, YOU JUST KINDA THROW IT TOGETHER. ADDING MORE WATER IF YOU NEED IT, CAUSE YOU REALLY DON'T WANT A THICK STICKY SPLIT PEA SOUP. THAT REALLY ISN'T VERY APPETIZING TO LOOK AT, LET ALONE TRY TO GET DOWN. THE SALT AND PEPPER ARE ANOTHER THING YOU JUST HAVE TO ADD AND TASTE UNTIL YOU GET IT THE WAY YOU WANT IT.
WITH ALL THAT SAID HERE GOES:

1 PACKAGE SPLIT PEAS
HAM BONE, HAM HOCKS OR SMOKED PORK JOWLS
CARROTS
WATER
SALT AND PEPPER

RINSE THE SPLIT PEAS AND PUT THEM IN A SOUP PAN, YOU KNOW, THE PAN YOU MAKE SOUP IN.
ADD A BUNCH OF CARROTS THAT YOU HAVE CHOPPED UP. I USE MY PAMPERED CHEF CHOPPER FOR THIS. IT WORKS WONDERS!!!!!
ADD ENOUGH WATER TO COVER THE SPLIT PEAS
ADD THE HAM BONE OR WHATEVER KIND OF MEAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN FROM THE LIST I GAVE YOU. DO NOT STRAY FROM THE APPROVED LIST

BRING TO A BOIL AND TURN DOWN TO A SIMMER. COOK FOR AT LEAST 30-40 MIN.
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE. THE AMOUNT YOU USE WILL DEPEND ON HOW SALTY YOUR MEAT CHOICE WAS, SO START OUT WITH LESS AND ADD MORE AS YOU GO.

I THINK THE LONGER YOU COOK THIS THE BETTER IT IS.
WHEN IT'S ALL DONE, REMOVE THE MEAT AND GET AS MUCH MEAT FROM THE BONE OR THE FAT AS YOU CAN AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE SOUP.
LADLE IT UP AND
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!