What to do With Your Easter Ham Bone

                                  

Hello friends, it's Tutorial Tuesday again with Jen at Hope Studios. My tutorial is from a previous post back in February, but I know many of you enjoyed a ham dinner this weekend, so I decided to repost. I have a lovely Easter ham bone and I thought what a perfect way to get a second meal from it. So come along with me and let's make some delicious Split Pea Soup. I know what some of you may be thinking " ugh...green soup..yuk". Believe me when I say I have converted many a naysayer when it comes to my Split Pea Soup.  Just ask my guys who makes the best soups and they will (and better) say MOM!! Ok...let's go.........

First put your ham bone in a large dutch oven or soup pot and cover with a large can of vegetable or chicken broth and water. If you are a real Julia Child, you can make homemade broth. I love to take creative short cuts when available. I add some good quality garlic powder and fresh ground pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer covered until meat starts to fall off bone, about 1 hour. Rinse dried peas and add. Let simmer for another 45 min -60min. Carefully remove ham bone and all meat to a bowl and let cool enough to pick the  meat off of the bone. Set aside for later.

Coarsely chop 1 large onion, 1 bunch of celery and about 8-10 carrots. I like the celery and carrots so I add alot and they do tend to cook down. I also add a couple of chopped potatoes towards the end. If you add potatoes to early, they cook down to nothing.

                        

When peas are almost tender, add all your vegetables and simmer until tender. When they are just about cooked through, add the potatoes. Simmer covered until all veggies are tender. Salt to taste. By now you will notice that the peas have all cooked down and can see that they are thickening the soup as they do so. The soup will take on that lovely soft green color it is famous for. Last, but not least...add the meat back in. That's it...get ready to enjoy your fabulously warm, very healthy and comforting homemade soup. This soup is even better the next day and freezes well. Be sure to bake up some crusty bread (I'm waiting Gretel) or flaky biscuits to make your meal complete.                    

Well time for me to go enjoy some of my soup. 

Until next time, be kind and stay creative. Be sure to check out all the other wonderful tutorials over at Hope Studios with Jennifer. Add your own and you could win a fabulous prize! Last tuesday it was one of my couture aprons.