SPLIT PEA SOUP

When I made this on national TV, the recipe requests poured in.

             1 pound dried split green peas
             1½ quarts chicken stock
             2 large smoked ham hocks or ham bone
             2 cups milk
             1 large onion, chopped
             1 large potato, peeled and diced
             2 bay leaves
             3 dashes of hot pepper sauce
             1 to 2 tablespoons fresh dill
             Freshly ground pepper to taste

Rinse the split peas and combine them with all the other ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and bring the liquid to a simmer. Cover and cook 1½ hours, stirring occasionally.

Remove the cover and cook an additional hour. Remove the ham hocks and trim the meat by discarding fat and bone. Return the meat to the pot and cook an additional hour. Makes approximately 2 quarts.