Creamy Split Pea Soup With Bacon Recipe

Many people's first memory of pea soup is one made by a grandmother for a huge gathering of family and friends. Thick and hearty, served with homemade bread, split pea soup is loved far and wide as comfort food. This version is made with a generous amount of bacon for garnish, along with a few potatoes and other vegetables to help thicken and flavor the soup. The half-and-half gives the soup a nice creamy consistency. Feel free to use diced leftover ham instead of bacon.