Take a boring sounding soup like "split pea" and if your kids are like mine, they will probably determine that they don't like it even before trying it. Try adding a monster face to the same boring sounding soup with a couple of dollops of plain greek yogurt, sliced olives, chopped ham, and the end of a breadstick and officially dub it "Green Monster Soup" and you might get them to take a second look. Not one for such cutesy tricks normally, I was surprised at how it seemed to soften up the pickiest eaters among my kids. Even my uber picky son declared that "it wasn't bad for a soup," which coming from him is quite the compliment! I think I'm going to start thinking of clever names for all my food now.
Don't forget to check out this post for a compilation of all of our favorite fun Halloween ideas in one place!
Recipe Source: Minnesota Bread
Posted by Lara.
The ingredients:
2 Tbs. butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lbs. smoked pork hocks (or a hambone leftover from a spiral ham)
2 tsp. dried marjoram or thyme
1-1/2 cups dried green split peas
8 cups water
1 cup diced leftover ham (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Garnishments for scary faces: Sour cream, sliced olives, breadsticks, extra chopped ham, etc
Directions:
Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
Add pork/ham bone and marjoram. Stir one minute. Add peas and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Partially cover pot; simmer soup until pork and veggies are tender and peas are softening; about one hour. Remove hocks/ham bone to bowl.
Puree 5 cups of soup in batches in blender and return to pot. Cut meat off bones. Dice meat and return to soup. Add additional chopped ham, if desired. Serve hot.
Enjoy!
Don't forget to check out this post for a compilation of all of our favorite fun Halloween ideas in one place!
Recipe Source: Minnesota Bread
Click here for printable recipe.
Posted by Lara.
The ingredients:
2 Tbs. butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lbs. smoked pork hocks (or a hambone leftover from a spiral ham)
2 tsp. dried marjoram or thyme
1-1/2 cups dried green split peas
8 cups water
1 cup diced leftover ham (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Garnishments for scary faces: Sour cream, sliced olives, breadsticks, extra chopped ham, etc
Directions:
Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
Add pork/ham bone and marjoram. Stir one minute. Add peas and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Partially cover pot; simmer soup until pork and veggies are tender and peas are softening; about one hour. Remove hocks/ham bone to bowl.
Puree 5 cups of soup in batches in blender and return to pot. Cut meat off bones. Dice meat and return to soup. Add additional chopped ham, if desired. Serve hot.
Enjoy!
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