Here's mine!
Split Pea Soup
4 slices thick-cut smoked bacon
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped
3 cloves, garlic, crushed
1 stalk celery
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
3 bay leaves
2½ quarts low-sodium canned chicken stock or 1½ quarts regular canned stock plus 1 cup water
1 smoked ham hock (about 1 pound) or bone from a cooked ham with some meat still attached
1 lb (2 cups)dried split peas, rinsed and picked over
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 Cook the bacon in 6-quart stockpot or Dutch oven and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat, then add the olive oil and butter. Over medium-heat, cook until foam subsides. Add the onions and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 15 to 20 minutes, until onions are dark brown and have caramelized.
2 Add the next 3 ingredients and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes of until carrots have softened. Add the remaining ingredients, except the salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for about 1 ½ hours, until peas fall apart and soup is thick.
3 Remove and discard the bay leaf. Remove the ham bones; trim off any meat, chop coarsely, and return meat to the pot, discarding the bones. Whisk soup until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. (The ham is salty and therefore it is unlikely you will need to add salt.) Crumble bacon and sprinkle on individual servings.
Recipe Source
Author: Christopher Kimball
Source: The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook
NOTE: This always take longer than 1 1/2 hours to get the peas soft. I cook it for at least 3...the longer the better.
PS My not-so little dog, Jack, hurt his paw the day I made this, so I gave the bone to comfort him and keep him still. It kept him busy and happy for a good long time.
PSS Oh, and the only reason I bought The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook was because it has the best fried chicken recipe I have ever had. I got it free off the internet many years ago and then one day I lost it! I needed it for dinner so I went out and bought the whole book for the one recipe...and I'm so glad I did.