Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

* 1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed
* 1 meaty hambone, 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham (I usually use the diced ham, as it's less greasy and easier to use . . . dice it up before you cook and you don't have to fish around for the hot bone and shred meat afterwards. Get the ham in the 2-pack in the pork section, as it's totally boneless)
* 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 2 ribs of celery, 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. Freezes well.
Serves 8.