Yummy Split Pea Soup (Great for Toddlers too!)

Hey, hey. I know what you're thinking...It's May 1st yet here is another great recipe! That's right, we just finished up our whole month of April with a recipe-a-day! Hope you've enjoyed them. I decided I will still be posting recipes (just not on the weekends mainly). There's just so many good recipes, I can't help but to share them...
 

When I was younger, I had a little sister who would BEG for split pea soup. I remember her eating it all the time! I, on the other hand, would look at the green goo and turn my nose up. It wasn't until I created this recipe for my daughter that I fell in love with Split Pea Soup! Even my husband who also HATED Split Pea Soup since his childhood will eat this one! There is a catch though... you need a pressure cooker to make it. My mother tried making it in a crock-pot and simmered it all day and even after doing that, it still was not as soft or green in color as the pressure cooker version. So, I apologize in the exclusivity of this recipe but once you taste it you'll understand why it has to be cooked in such a way.  

My pressure cooker plug: Before I begin, I just want to say that I DO NOT get paid to say any of this but it is out of simple sure-love that I decided to tell you about my Cuisinart Electric Pressure Cooker. I bought it from Costco and have absolutely adored it! (It also has a low-pressure setting, browning, simmering, and saute' option.) 

It was not a cheap appliance but it's one that will definitely pay for itself over time. Dried beans are super cheap to buy and making them in the pressure cooker is so much healthier! Not only are you leaving out the added preserving chemicals but you also don't get all the added sodium (salt) and BPA from the lining of the can. It's a total win-win situation. (If you're not sure what BPA is click on the highlighted word above to read a SUPER-GOOD article on the dangers of it. 

I freeze my beans in BPA-free ziplock bags or in BPA-free ice cube trays (see picture below) for quick use later. In the pressure cooker I can cook beans in 30 minutes (and they are soft just liked the canned ones). I also can cook beets in 25 minutes, Quinoa in 2 minutes, long-simmering soups in 25 minutes, and much much more. PS the Pressure Cooker also comes with a recipe book! Alright, enough plugging, here is the recipe. Maybe you'll fall in love with Split Pea Soup again. ;)

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Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup  

(Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Can be Vegan)
Created by jalene

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Gluten-Free chicken broth (or to make Vegan use Vegan Vegetable Broth)
• 1 cup dry split peas (rinsed and drained)
• 1 large carrot, chopped into small chunks
• 1 large celery stick, sliced
• 1 onion, diced (you can use yellow or purple)
• 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. Throw everything into a pressure cooker. Cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes, use Natural Pressure Release. 

Serve warm or place into ice cube trays and cover with Glad Press n Seal. 
(You can purchase it on Amazon with the link below if your local grocery store does not have it.)