Split Pea Soup

This is a great healthy soup. Something to warm you up on a cold snowy day.  Add ham to it if you would like.

SPLIT PEA SOUP

(serves 8-10)

Ingredients:

*6 cups cold water

*2 cups dried split peas (pick out any bad ones)

*1 cup cold water

*1/2 cup barley

*1 tablespoon vegetable oil

*1 onion, chopped

*1 bay leaf

*2 cloves garlic, minced

*1 1/2 teaspoons salt

*7 1/2 cups vegetable stock

*3 medium carrots, chopped small

*2 stalks celery, chopped

*3 potatoes, diced

*1 tablespoon dried parsley

*1/2 teaspoon dried basil

*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

*1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

~In a large bowl, mix split peas in 6 cups water and let stand overnight.

~In a small bowl, mix 1 cup water and barley, let sit for at least 1/2 hour.

~In a large stock pot over medium heat sauté onion, bay leaf & onion in oil until onions are translucent.

~Drain water off peas & barley.

~Add peas, barley & vegetable stock to stock pot.

~Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.

~Cover, and simmer for 2 hours, stirring once in a while.

~Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, parsley, basil, thyme, and black pepper.

~Simmer for another hour or two until the peas and vegetables are tender.

~Carefully put soup in mixture and blend until smooth.

Instant Pot Directions:
~Put instant pot to sauté mode.  Add 1tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.
~Once hot, sauté celery, carrots and onions for about 2-3 minutes.
~Add remaining ingredients.
~Turn off sauté mode and put on pressure cook mode.
~Pressure cook for 20 minutes.
~Allow to natural release for 15 minutes.  If the pin hasn't dropped in 15 minutes then do a quick release.