Taste of the Sisterhood – Easy Peasy Pea Soup | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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We’re in the midst of fall, and darn it all if a nice bowl of soup doesn’t just hit the spot. In all honesty, I’m kind of obsessed with soups/stews/chilis and make them year round, but there’s something about a cold stormy day that absolutely demands soup.

Why do I love soup so? Well, many reasons. It’s soul satisfying. It’s easy. You can make a ton and freeze it in individual portions. And while many very unhealthy soups exist out there, finding healthful yet hearty soups is quite easy. And you can adjust most any recipe to make it even healthier.

Which is what I did with my pea soup recipe. And if you’re not a pea soup lover (yes, I know it can resemble the contents of a newborn’s diaper), I really, REALLY think you should try this one. Just close your eyes and it’s DREAMY.

A few notes:

  • Make a double batch. It freezes beautifully.
  • For the ham, go to your deli counter and ask the clerk to cut off a 1/2 pound slab of the ham. Then you’ll just need to dice it up.
  • If you want to make your life super easy, you can even go for the pre-diced onions (places like Trader Joe’s even have ready mirepoix – diced carrot, celery and onion).

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(the wine and the bread will change the calorie count – duh)

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 lb ham steak – smokey variety, not sweet – diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks of celery, diced
  • 1 russet potato, peeled and diced
  • 4 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 lb bag of split peas, rinsed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat olive oil in dutch oven (or large pot) over medium heat. Saute the onion till translucent and tender. Add the garlic and ham, saute for one more minute. Next, add the split peas, stock, water, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Add the remaining vegetables and cook for an additional hour. Remove bay leaf (I ALWAYS forget this part). For a smoother, thicker soup, hit it with an immersion blender till it reaches desired consistency.

Serve with a nice salad and some warm bread. YUM!

Serves 6.

Nutritional Info: One serving equals 215 calories, 3.7 grams fat (0.7 saturated), 13.3 mg cholesterol, 542 mg sodium, 15.4 g protein, 8.1 g fiber

Taste of the Sisterhood is sponsored by Attune Foods!