irish split pea soup

Ingredients For irish split pea soup

• 1 c

  split peas, picked through and rinsed
• 1 sm

  onion, diced
• 1 md

  carrot, chopped
• 1 stalk

  celery, chopped
• 1 Tbsp

  crumbled bacon bits (the real kind)
• 1 1/2 c

  chicken stock or water
• 1 sprig

  fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
• 1

  bay leaf
• 1 md

  potato, diced
• 4 oz

  ham, diced (or smoked pork chop- if there's a bone, cut off the meat and put the bone in the soup while it simmers)
• 1/2 c

  half and half (or evaporated milk) optional
• salt and pepper, to taste