Friday lunches at a former (and fondly remembered) office became a popular event. One of the agents, Tim, prepared a big pot of soup and shared it with the agents and staff. All of his soups were delicious but this was the most popular and most requested. It is perfect for the heart of winter. Serve with some great bread.
1 lb. smoked ham, chopped into small cubes
2 lb. split peas
2 medium onions, chopped
6 carrots, finely diced
2 tbls. minced garlic
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
3 quarts of water
In a large soup pot, place all ingredients and bring to a "furious" boil. Keep boiling until the peas are soft and nearly pureed, this will take about 1 1/2 hours. Feel free to add additional water to make a consistency you like.