Split Pea Soup with Ham Hocks and Sage.

I searched and searched for a good split pea soup recipe.  Problem is, you never know which ones are even good.  After reading a bunch of recipes, I came up with this.

Ingredients:

• 3 ham hocks on the bone
• 1 lb green split peas
• 4 carrots diced
• 1 onion diced
• 4 stalks of celery diced
• 2-3 large russet potatoes diced
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs of sage
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a dutch oven or large pot with lid lightly saute carrots, onions, and celery in olive oil. 
2. Add potatoes, garlic, dry peas and ham hocks.
3. Cover with water
4. Add bay leaves and sage
5. Cover and simmer for 1 hour
6. Remove ham hocks with tongs.  Let cool for a few minutes.  Remove meat from bones and add back into soup.
7. Remove bay leaves and sage
8. Cook for another hour

Serve with hearty bread.  Mmmmmmm.