Split pea soup, one of the slow cooker soup recipes

Ingredients

• 16 ounces split peas (dried green, rinsed)
• 1 ham bone
• 2 cups diced ham
• 3 carrots (chopped fine)
• 1 sweet onion (large, chopped)
• 2 stalks celery (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 to 6 cups chicken stock (enough to cover)
• 1 cup cream (optional - to blend in when pureed)