Split Pea Soup with Chicken

What a treat when this hearty healthy soup is waiting at home rafter a long day at work. Feel free to use bacon for this recipe, but chicken is my choice for a healthy version, which is truly delicious.

Ingredients:
1 cup dried split pea, washed and drained
1 chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 tbs fresh thyme
1 tbs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups chicken broth or water

Directions:
In a 3 to 4 quart slow cooker, mix all the ingredients. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours or until chicken and vegetables are tender. Place 2 cups of soup in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the blended soup back into the crockpot, or you can blend the whole soup until smooth. I like my soup half chunky. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese (your choice) on top.