Split Pea Soup

I first had split pea soup during a lunch meeting of the Monterey Park (California) Lions Club. The cook – Jessie – had made a huge potful of the delicious soup and I could tell it was a popular item because when I went back for seconds, there was none left.

This is not my own recipe; I got it off the ‘Net a while back and fiddled around with it. I really regret not asking Jessie for her recipe 40 years ago. Darnit.

Ingredients 

·         DRIED SPLIT PEAS, 1 pound bag

·         COLD WATER, 2 quarts

·         HAM BONE, 1½ pounds

·         ONIONS, 2, thinly sliced or chopped

·         SALT, ½ teaspoon

·         BLACK PEPPER, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground

·         MARJORAM, dried, 1 pinch

·         CELERY, 1 stalk, chopped

·         CARROT, 1, chopped

·         POTATO, 1, diced (or, half-cup of mashed or equivalent) 

Directions 

1.       Soak the peas for at least a couple of hours with the water in a large stock pot.

2.       Add the ham bone, onion, salt, pepper and marjoram.

3.       Cover, bring to boil and then simmer for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally.

4.       Remove the bone. Cut the meat off the bone, dice and return meat to the soup.

5.       Add the celery, carrots and potatoes. Cook slowly, uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

6.       Turn off the heat and let cool for a bit before serving.

Karen's Kitchen Recipe Books

My sister, Karen Ono, is an excellent cook, and we all look forward to family dinners at her house, whether it be a pot luck, a family gathering, or some kind of celebration.

She's an avid recipe collector and tries all kinds of yummy creations. I'm not sure if she's practicing on us, but I have to say I haven't been disappointed yet.

The reason I mention this is because she used to file the recipes in three-ring binders, protected in plastic sleeves. She might still do that, but a few years ago, she compiled them in a little booklet that she distributed to family members.

Last year, she came out with volume two. The cookbook covers were designed by our cousin, Gale Okumura, of Okumura Design in Sacramento.

Want to follow some of her recipes? Tell you what ... I'll post some occasionally just for you.