Must Like Peas { recipe }

I'm all about a yummy meal, created very quickly, and without my help (other than preparation)... which is why today, I'm sharing a slow cooker recipe. I think in the next few weeks, I'll be doing MANY of these, because I love just being able to add ingredients to a vessel, and let IT do all the cooking. I love being able to walk away from it, get my chores/errands done, come home, and enjoy a meal that I barely spent time on. It's truly brilliant, and I'm unsure why I haven't started these sooner... but on a cold day (filled with snow flurries), this makes for an awesome way to "warm" yourself up... but, there's one thing... you have to like peas! Enjoy friends...

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed
1 meaty hambone, 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 ribs of celery plus leaves, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1 tbsp. seasoned salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
1 1/2 qts. hot water

Preparation:

Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given; pour in water.

Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 to 5 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Mash peas to thicken more, if desired. Serve garnished with croutons. Freezes well.
Serves 8.