Green Soup -- peas and broccoli do the tango in my crockpot

My crockpot beckoned and I answered. Hello crockpot, here is some green soup for you to make. Split peas, green peas, broccoli. One of those hearty concoctions that make you glad you're hungry. My husband practically rhapsodized as he ate it, and he's not a guy who gets excited about food. Apparently it full on hit some pleasure center of his brain. I think it was the complex layering of flavours that did it for him -- nothing brash, everything subtle, but fully delicious.

ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
3 tbsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

2 cups green split peas, dry

1/4 cup finely crumbled dried mushrooms

2 cups diced sweet potato

3 cups frozen organic green peas

3 cups diced celery
2 cups diced carrots


4 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp herbe de provence

8 cups hot water

after:

2 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to adjust  if needed

500 grams chopped broccoli florets

1 cup hot water


directions:

turn on your crockpot and let it start to warm up!

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed, reserving the ones listed under 'after' for the end of cooking
2. cook until the green split peas have dissolved
3. stir in the lemon juice and adjust the salt and pepper if needed
4. add the chopped broccoli florets and 1 more cup water and let cook until done