Pea soup is green, and so is the turf on a football field. That's about it, except, it just so happens Scott and I are watching the 49ers and the Giants vie for a chance in the Super Bowl AND, I'm making Pea Soup. So that's what the two have in common for me today. And, you might be asking why I would be writing about this. Well, I had to come up with something since my wonderful boyfriend challenged me to write a blog post and then proceeded to give me a subject headline as well as the lead in sentence: "what does Pea Soup and the 49ers have in common". So, being the frustrated writer that I am I decided to get creative and step up to the challenge of writing a new blog post based on the fact that I really am making Pea Soup today as Scott watches the 49ers play the Giants. Well, I must admit, I'm sort of watching the game too....actually I'm doing more listening than watching. I do have a slight interest in this game, especially since I love both San Francisco and New York. I suppose for most people picking one team over the other is the thing do to but as for me, well, I just can't seem to pick which team is my favorite. I'm going with "may the best team win." I know, I know, sort of an oxymoron. So, as I tinker in the kitchen tending to a big pot of Pea Soup (with a smoked Ham Hock I got this morning from my favorite grocery store, Gelson's) I am having a good day. I never thought I would enjoy hanging at home while my man is glued to a football game! See what love does! Yep, I love him! Scott has been asking me to make Pea Soup for a while now. His Mom use to make it and he has cravings for it. Now there's a challenge....make a pot of soup as good as Mom. Ha......I love challenges.
So, to all you football lovers, 49er fans, Giants fans and lovers of Pea Soup, here's my recipe for Pea Soup with Ham Hock:
- 2 large onions, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons "Better Than Bouillon" Beef Base
- 1-pound bag (2 cups) dried green split peas, rinsed well in cold water
- 1 pound smoked ham hock
- 8 cups water
Place rinsed peas in pot with 8 cups water. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and let rest for 1 hr. Then add to same pot: onions, celery, carrots, bay leaf, 2 teaspoons "Better than Boulion, Beef" and ham hock. Bring again to boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes.
Remove from heat. Remove ham hock to cutting board. Allow soup to cool then put 1/2 of the soup through medium mesh sieve, adding it back to pot. This should impart a thickness to the soup. Chop ham hock into small pieces and add back to soup pot. Allow all to cool, about an hour or more. Then heat and serve.
Now that I've cooked a huge pot of Pea Soup on this sweet Sunday afternoon, I shall take a break and watch the end of the game. It's an exciting game......The score is tied -- both teams are playing really well.
Looking forward to writing my next blog post on Super Bowl Sunday!
