Split Pea Soup & Homemade Croutons

Oh, look... a little field of split peas. They're so cute!

'Split peas' are peas that have been dried and split (duh). What I want to know is how do they split those tiny things right down the middle like that??

If you know how they do that, please tell me! Then I can get some sleep!

First, cover the peas with water and let them sit for about an hour, then drain. Finely dice a carrot, a medium onion, and one rib of celery. Then press three garlic cloves.

Saute the veggies in a pot with a couple of bay leaves.

Add two quarts of chicken broth...

... and four smoked ham hocks. Don't leave those ham hocks out - they'll make the soup taste fantastic! (You could use a big old chunk of ham or a hambone, instead.)
Now for the croutons. Slice some sourdough, then cut it into cubes. Put some olive oil in a frying pan and shake those little cubettes around until they're all browned and crispy.
Ladle some soup into a nice big bowl and top with the croutons. Great with a salad on a cold day! You can get the recipe by clicking right here.