Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 7 cups water
• 1 (16 ounce) packages dried split peas, rinsed and sorted ( 2 1/4 Cups)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/4 inch slices ( 1 1/2 Cups)
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped ( 1 Cup)
• 1 medium onion, chopped ( 1/2 cup)
• 1 ham bone or 2 lbs ham shanks or 2 lbs smoked pork hocks

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients except ham in 5 qt slow cooker, then add ham.
2. Cover and cook on low heat 8 to 10 hrs or on high heat 6 to 7 hours until peas are tender Remove ham from cooker; place on cutting board.
3. Pull meat from bones, using 2 forks; discard bones and skin.
4. Stir ham into soup.
5. Stir well before serving.