A cozy bowl!

I call this “rustic” because, well, it is.  Big chucks of potato, whole rosemary leaves and pieces of smoky-sweet ham make it a perfect-almost stew-like cozy culinary retreat!  It is a warm, fulfilling bowl of heaven that will so take you to another place when you have had a crappy day.  And this is the PERFECT thing to do with that leftover spiral sliced ham that I know lots of you do not know what to do with.  As you see in my picture here that I actually take what is already a pretty heavy soup and make it into even more of a culinary carb fest by sticking a mini corn muffin right in the center.  You do not have to do this but OMG, it is so good and I guarantee, if you have had a bad day, that by the time you lick the last drop out of the bottom of the bowl, you will be smiling-BIG!

Serves 4-6 In a couple of hours (for company, make it and then heat just before serving)

• 2 Tbs Olive oil
• 2 Sweet onions, chopped
• 3 Whole sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 Large russet potatoes cut into large chunks
• 8 C Chicken broth
• 1-1 lb Bag of dried, split peas that have been soaked 6-8 hours
• 2 Tsp Dried oregano
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2 C Smoked ham, cubed
• ½ C Milk
• 2 Tbs All Purpose flour
• Salt & Pepper to taste

1.  In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over high meat
2. Add next 3 ingredients and cook, stirring constantly, for 8 minutes
3. Pour in broth, add next 4 ingredients, stir, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 2 hours
4. Pull the rosemary stems out-the leaves will have fallen off
5. Now the peas should be soft and somewhat creamy-you could just add salt and pepper and serve at this point
6. But I like to make it a little thicker and a little creamier so I slowly whisk ½ C milk into 2 Tbs all purpose flour and then whisk the flour “slurry” into the soup-bring it back to a boil
7. I then add salt & pepper until it’s just right and serve-Preferably fireside with a big glass of red wine!