Split Pea Soup

After making split pea soup several times now, and modifying it each time with what I had on hand, I have finally come to the point where I LOVE it...

2 thick slices of applewood bacon (chopped roughly)
1 large onion (chopped large)
8 cups water
1 lb. dried split peas
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. crushed dried rosemary
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
3 large carrots
1 pkg. carving board ham (diced)
salt and pepper to taste

Brown bacon in dutch oven. Add onion and allow to saute for a few minutes. Add water, peas, thyme, rosemary, cloves, and salt. Cover and bring to a simmer for 60 min. Add carrots and simmer for additional 35 minutes. Remove from heat, and puree using an immersion blender. Add ham and return to heat for about 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Make 8-10 servings (or more).

Bacon and Cilantro Potato Salad

This "recipe" was introduced to me by a good friend, Doug Roode. As you can tell by the recipe, it is not so much a recipe. I have tried my hand at it once, and I will tell you, it was AWESOME. Only thing I can say is be careful with the cilantro as it is easy to get a little heavy-handed with it.

Potatoes - as many as you need. Usually I use red with the skins left on. I chop them into small pieces and coat them in olive oil, minced garlic (like in the jar from the produce section) and some sea salt and pepper. Then I roast them in the oven until golden brown. I admit, that I cheated on the one you had at Tracy's and used pre-cut "Hash brown" style frozen potatoes from the freezer section of the grocery store. It eliminated the cutting etc because I was rushed.

While the potatoes are cooking - Chop and fry a pound of thick cut bacon until crispy... remove bacon to a paper towel to sit and crisp - reserve the grease in the pan.

Add to the rendered bacon fat 1-2 sweet onions very thinly chopped and cook until caramelized. I also add about a tbsp of sugar to the onion to help sweeten them and get a really nice rich brown color.

In a food processor combine 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and additional garlic (if desired) and whip together until the cilantro is finely chopped and incorporated into the mayo. Add the bacon, onion and renderings from the pan and pulse a few times to incorporate it as well.

At this point I play with the seasoning (add a little more sugar, salt, etc to alter the taste slightly) It is best if this can be done the day before and let the whole thing hang out over night so the flavors have a chance to hang out, mingle, and get to know each other a bit before it is served, but it is still good with minimal mingling time.

Whole Grain Waffles

• My sister in law sent me to this recipe at AllRecipes. It is super yummy. I have modified the oil/applesauce slightly to decrease the total oil in the recipe. It is absolutely divine. Make it even better with a bit of warm fruit syrup (I made it myself on the stove using frozen berries, a touch of water, a touch of cornstarch, and just a couple of tablespoons of sugar).
• 
  
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 3/4 cups skim milk
• 2T cup canola oil
• 1/4 + 2T cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup flax seed meal
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, applesauce, and vanilla. Beat in whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, wheat germ, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until batter is smooth.
2. Preheat a waffle iron, and coat with cooking spray. Pour batter into waffle iron in batches, and cook until crisp and golden brown.