While it presents as a most unappetizing color and texture, split pea soup with bacon is quite hearty and delicious. Serve it with bread as you’ll want to scoop up every last drop.
Before I dive into the St. Patrick’s Day themed Holiday Recipe Club post today, I suppose I should tell you how my mom’s surgery went after the dramatic story I told yesterday. Agreed? I feel like I am dangling something tantalizing in front of you.
The pre-op business took all of the morning and then the balloon test to make sure they could proceed with the real surgery took a little while longer. Surgery didn’t truly begin until mid-afternoon. Originally the plan was to cut off the carotid artery as she had enough blood flow without it due to a precious surgery, but the process was causing her to become sick (vagal response) despite all of their efforts.
Being a life-threatening situation, they went ahead and tried something else which only had a 1% chance of being completed…
They got it to work! The doctor was ecstatic (myself and family included) and said the carotid artery was saved via stent and the aneurysm itself was now filled 95% with coils. He may have to go back in to fill the remaining 5%, but we shall see how things go. Of course I didn’t have a clue how these coils worked so after my aunt explaining to me what she was told by a nurse, and a little research on the web, it is a platinum coil that causes a clotting reaction to occur within the aneurysm itself and will hopefully eliminate it! I even found a little video if you care to watch on YouTube.
I didn’t get to speak with my mom but she is feeling well despite the nausea from the anesthetic. She will be held in the ICU overnight and will likely be in the hospital for another 2-3 days. I am very much relieved for it to be over. (Update: if the MRI results today look good she’s going home tomorrow!)
As for the bouquet of cake balls, being that the hospital is 2 hours from their home they have not made their presence known yet. Wish I had gotten them in the mail sooner so that they could have arrived on Tuesday instead. I wasn’t thinking it through and just wanted them to be there when she was done with surgery so I went for Wednesday. Hopefully their neighbor was able to scoop up the package so that it won’t be sitting outside the entire time they are gone.
But now I must redirect you into thinking about the upcoming holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. For today’s post we had to choose between pistachios, potatoes, and beer. My mind immediately went to soup. And a green one such as split pea soup, because evidently it is an acceptable Irish food item with which to celebrate the holiday. Learning stuff is cool!
This was my first time ever making split-pea soup. In fact the last time I witnessed it being homemade by anyone was decades ago by my grandmother. I don’t recall how she makes it (and I doubt she does either because she’s from the generation that doesn’t need recipes), but I kind of like my split pea soup a bit thicker. If you like a thinner split-pea, then simply stop cooking it when it reaches your preferred consistency.
I originally made this using a recipe with potatoes but later decided it made it too starchy and omitted them. In it’s place, I added bacon! Despite the off-putting color, the little chunks of bacon and carrot really won me over. This split pea soup with bacon was especially good served with asiago biscuit twists or Guinness bread.
Post updated 4/18/2023, photo above is the original.
One year ago: Creamy Baked Chicken Taquitos
Source: Adapted from Teenie Cakes and NY Times Cooking.
20 comments
Smells delicious, do I wait till the end to take out the ham bone, or take it out just before simmering?
This recipe does not call for a ham bone, but you can add it if you would like. If using I would leave it in until the end.
:) Im so glad everything went well with your mom.
I <3 me some split pea soup after trying it for the first time last year. Its soooo hearty and tasty!
I am definitely making this with my Easter ham bone…SO yummy! As do your asiago twists! And I’m SO glad your mom’s procedure went well….my hubby puts in carotid stents…and I know it’s risky. WHEW.
Oh I bet this soup would be great with a ham bone in there. And thank for the well wishes about my mom! She is doing great.
Glad to hear your mom is doing better. The soup looks wonderful Thanks for sharing with us.
That’s wonderful news about your mom! Split pea soup is one of my favorites!
Such good news about your mom Erin, I’m so incredibly happy for you and your family. I can’t imagine the relief :)
Peas are one of the few veggies I still haven’t learned to like yet, but I’m going to keep trying!
I’m so happy to hear the good news about your mom! I’ve seen your posts on twitter and has hoping she was doing ok.
Oh my gosh I am so glad that things are going better with your mom.
The split pea soup sounds so tasty! I love peas and still haven’t gotten around to making a big pot of this. I need to asap. Great recipe!
Thanks! And It definitely makes a big ol’ pot.
Erin-
I am glad to hear that your mom’s surgery went well!
Kara
Yay! Great news about your mom! I’m glad everything went well.
This split pea is actually one that I would eat! I love the potatoes & thickness in general. I wish my boyfriends father was around so I could impress him with this soup! He’s a huge fan of split pea soup AND he’s Irish,would have been perfect! Maybe I’ll just have to try it out on my boyfriend instead. :) Great recipe!
I am SO happy to hear your mom is doing well and going home tomorrow!!! That is really fabulous news!!
So glad to hear that things went well with your mom! Hooray for great doctors! Hopefully she’ll feel better soon and get to go home and get her cakes pops! :)
So glad to hear that your mom is doing well! I wish her a speedy recovery!
I am not a fan of split pea soup, but my husband loves it! I might have to break down and make him this soon!
I am so happy that your Mom’s surgery went well!! When she gets your cookies, she will be so happy and just love them! As for your soup, it looks fantastic! Perfect color for this holiday!!
I am so happy to hear your mom’s surgery went well! Y’all are still in my thoughts and prayers!!
I’m SO glad that everything with your mom’s surgery went so well! That’s wonderful news. :)
And this soup looks fabulous–thick and hearty and perfect to satisfy a craving for some comfort food. I like my soups nice and thick like this!
So happy to hear about the success of your mom’s surgery!