Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

2 cups split peas
2 Tablespoons canola oil
2 medium onions, finely diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 quarts chicken broth
4 carrots, peeled and diced
Ham bone with ham pieces attached
Salt to taste

Directions:

Pick over peas to remove stones and debris.  Rinse them in cold water, unless package says presort and washed.
Heat canola oil in the bottom of a soup pot.  Saute onions, celery, and garlic until translucent.  Add chicken broth, carrots, ham bone, and lentils.  Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until lentils are very tender.  Remove ham bone and cut ham from bone and place back in pot. If soup gets too thick, thin out with a little chicken broth.  Taste and add salt if needed.  Makes 8-10 servings.