Spicy Split Pea Soup with Homemade Corn Bread

I love spicy food and if I had it my way at our house everything would have jalapenos or habanero peppers in it.  But since my better half has more say, I add it in small amounts.  Yesterday I was getting a craving for soup and a hearty soup.  I looked in my pantry and what did I discover? Split peas.  Man I love me some split pea soup, but I have to say I love my split pea soup.

This is a great soup for a cold night, when all you want is something to warm your soul and I did that tonight with split pea soup and homemade corn bread baby.  Man our house smelled good.

I hope you enjoy.  Have a wonderful beautiful day.

Ingredients

Olive Oil
3 Cups Dried Split Peas
6 Cloves Garlic (Sliced)
1/2 Red Onion
2 Cups Chicken Stock (I make mine from scratch which I have a recipe for)
2 Cups Water
3 TSP Red Pepper Flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Bay Leaves

Chopping and Making Soup

• First thing, chop your onion into dices and slice your garlic like this

• Grab a meduim stock pot and turn heat onto medium
• Add olive oil allow this to heat up
• Add your onions and garlic and allow them to cook for 4 minutes

• After this has caramelized add your spices and cook them together for 2 minutes

• After these have cooked and you have stirred them add your split peas and cook them for 2 minutes

• Now stir them together 
• Add your water and chicken stock (mine looks funny only because I freeze it)(Don't laugh)

• Turn your heat down to low
• Put lid on it and stir occasionally 
• Allow this to cook for 45 minutes
• It should look like this

• Adjust seasonings
• Now to make Corn Bread

Corn Bread Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus butter for baking dish
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

• Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
• Melt your 6 tablespoons of butter
• Mix your milk and eggs together

• Add your butter
• Put your dry mixture together and slowly add to your wet mixture

• Butter up a 9x9 pan 
• Add your corn bread mixture and even it out

• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes and this is your final result

Ready To Eat

Now grab a plate, bowl, spoon and a napkin and gourge yourself on some really good hearty soup with a warm buttered up slice of corn bread.  Enjoy this wonderful soup and have a beautiful day.