Easy Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

I love Split Pea soup.  On a cold day, nothing warms and fills one better.  Here's an easy way to make this delicious and hearty soup with very little effort.  It cooks while you're at work!  Throw the ingredients in,  turn on your crock pot and come home to a delicious meal.

1 lb ham, cubed into about 1 cm cubes
1 package of dry Split Peas (16oz)
3 carrots, finely diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
1/2 of a Rutabaga, diced like the ham
1 heaping T minced garlic
10 cups (2 1/2 quarts) water
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 bay leaves

Optional:  1 tsp cayenne pepper (if you like a little kick in your soup...I do)

Another option is to take one or two carrots out and replace with parsnips...which look like white carrots.  Parsnips will give it an earthier flavor that's delicious and hard to describe.

Put all ingredients in crock pot.  Set on low, and go to work.  When you get home, stir it well and serve.  If you like it a little thicker, take to it with a potato masher, then stir again before serving.  It will also thicken quite a bit as it cools.

Enjoy!!!!