C&F CLASSIC SPLIT PEA SOUP

1 meaty ham bone
1 pound dry C&F green split peas, rinsed (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 quarts water
2 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
2 medium onions, chopped
2 medium celery stalks, chopped
2 carrots, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic or red wine vinegar, or to taste

Instructions:

Combine ham bone, peas, water, broth, and bay leaves in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 1 hour.

Remove ham bone from pot and set aside to cool. When it is cool enough to handle, stir meat from the bone, remove any excess, fat, and shred or chop ham into small pieces.

To soup pot, add onions, celery, carrot, garlic, and chopped ham and continue simmering until soup is creamy and vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 30 minutes.
Before serving stir in vinegar, remove bay leaves, and grind in a generous amount of black pepper.

Each serving provides 272 calories, 19 grams protein, 37 grams carbohydrate, 13 grams fiber, 330 milligrams sodium.