Microwave Split Pea Soup For 2 Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the vegetables, and melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add vegetables and cook over medium heat until softened. Add the proscuitto and the hot dog (cut into 1/4" rounds) and stir. Cook for about 10 minutes.
• 2. Add water and chicken broth to the pot containing the vegetables and meats. Add split peas which have been picked over to remove any small stones or questionable looking peas. Stir well.
• 3. Stab a toothpick through the two bay leaves and the garlic clove and add to pot. (This makes them easier to find and remove before serving.) Add remaining seasonings and stir.
• 4. Simmer on medium-low until the peas are tender and falling apart. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching the bottom. (See note below for thicker soup.)
• 5. Remove parsley sprigs and toothpick with bay leaves and garlic. For smoother soup, scoop out a cup or more, remove the hotdog slices (return to pot) and blend in a blender or food processor. Return blended soup to the pot and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• 6. Serve with a nice crusty bread and salad, or with a grilled cheese sandwich. You can also add some creme fraiche or a dollop of sour cream to the top when serving and stir it in when you eat. Chopped parsley is also an optional garnish.
• 7. Note: This is a soup, not a thick "stoup". If you like your split pea soup thicker, increase the split peas (up to 1 3/4 to 2 cups) or thicken it with either a roux of butter and flour or a slurry of flour and water during the final cooking process.
• 8. I will tell you that if you use this recipe and let the soup sit and reheat it, it will be thicker. So if you are going to eat it right away, use the larger amount of peas, but if you plan on making it earlier in the day and reheating it, it will be thickened more. If it gets too thick, just add a little chicken broth to thin it.

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, cover peas with 2 quarts cold water and soak overnight. If you need a faster method, simmer the peas gently for 2 minutes, and then soak for l hour.
• Once peas are soaked, add ham bone, onion, salt, pepper and marjoram. Cover, bring to boil and then simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bone; cut off meat, dice and return meat to soup. Add celery, carrots and potatoes. Cook slowly, uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Steps:

• In 2-quart casserole combine bacon and onion.
• Cover with paper towel.
• Microwave at High 2 to 3 minutes, or until bacon is brown.
• Add remaining ingredients; cover with plastic wrap.
• Microwave at High 20 to 35 minutes, or until peas are soft, stirring every 10 minutes.
• Remove peppercorns and bay leaf before serving.

Steps:

• Combine peas, rice, and water in a saucepan or small stock-pot; bring to boil then reduce heat; add vegetables, salt, pepper, and bay leaf to pot.
• Simmer for one hour; discard bay leaf and, if desired, partially mash up the soft-cooked split peas with the back a large spoon. Alternately, you may puree the soup in a blender or food-processor before serving.
• For more flavor, you may use broth or homemade stock instead of water, or use a combination of half tomato juice and half water. You may also add 1/2 teaspoon cumin for a southwestern flavor, OR (one or the other, not both) add a bit of rubbed sage for a "smoky" note.