Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup | Real Balanced

Ingredients

• 16 ounces dried split peas (or 20 ounces for a thicker soup; see Note below)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water (1 ½ cups if using 20 ounces of split peas; see Note below)
• 2 cups cubed ham (store-bought or leftover or 1 meaty ham bone)
• 3 carrots (peeled then diced)
• 2 celery ribs (diced)
• ½ large yellow onion (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 bay leaf
• salt (to taste)
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley