Vegetarian Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) bag dried split peas, rinsed and cleaned
• water (see below)
• 1 cup regular uncooked long grain rice
• 1/4 cup reduced fat margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Heat fry pan and add oil, then onion, garlic, celery, and carrots.

2. 2

   Saute vegetables until soft.

3. 3

   Add sauteed vegetables to 6-quart crock pot.

4. 4

   Then add split peas and enough water to half full capacity.

5. 5

   Cover and cook on high for four hours until peas are tender.

6. 6

   Stir in rice and recover. Cook rice for another two hours until rice is tender. Add additional water if necessary to keep it at about half full capacity.

7. 7

   Before serving, add pepper and margarine and stir until melted.