Green Monster Soup (Split Pea)

Take a boring sounding soup like "split pea" and if your kids are like mine, they will probably determine that they don't like it even before trying it.  Try adding a monster face to the same boring sounding soup with a couple of dollops of plain greek yogurt, sliced olives, chopped ham, and the end of a breadstick and officially dub it "Green Monster Soup"  and you might get them to take a second look.  Not one for such cutesy tricks normally, I was surprised at how it seemed to soften up the pickiest eaters among my kids.  Even my uber picky son declared that "it wasn't bad for a soup," which coming from him is quite the compliment!  I think I'm going to start thinking of clever names for all my food now.

Don't forget to check out this post for a compilation of all of our favorite fun Halloween ideas in one place!

Recipe Source:  Minnesota Bread

Click here for printable recipe.

Posted by Lara. 

The ingredients:
2 Tbs. butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lbs. smoked pork hocks (or a hambone leftover from a spiral ham)
2 tsp. dried marjoram or thyme
1-1/2 cups dried green split peas
8 cups water
1 cup diced leftover ham (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Garnishments for scary faces:  Sour cream, sliced olives, breadsticks, extra chopped ham, etc


Directions:
Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.  Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.  Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes.

Add pork/ham bone and marjoram.  Stir one minute.  Add peas and water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low. 

Partially cover pot; simmer soup until pork and veggies are tender and peas are softening; about one hour.  Remove hocks/ham bone to bowl. 

Puree 5 cups of soup in batches in blender and return to pot.  Cut meat off bones.  Dice meat and return to soup.  Add additional chopped ham, if desired.  Serve hot. 






Enjoy!