Popeye's Swee'pea Soup

10 c Water

3 1/4 (1 1/2 lb) dried green

-split peas 1 lg Red onion, diced

1/2 lb Diced yam, unpeeled

3 lg Stalks chopped celery,

-include finely chopped -leaves 1 lb Finely chopped fresh

-spinach 1 lg Cloves garlic, pressed or

-minced 2 ts Crumbled basil leaf

2 c Shelled fresh peas or 1 10

-oz. pkg. frozen peas, -rinsed under hot -water to thaw 3 tb Tamari

3 tb Light molasses, to taste

-(not blackstrap) 2 ts SPIKE to taste

In 6 or 8 qt. pot bring water, split peas, onion, yam, and celery to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered about 30 min. Add spinach, garlic and basil. Bring to boil again. Reduce heat and simmer 25-35 min. Note: I'm not sure where this recipe came from, but the original called for 3 Tbs. olive oil to be added to the water in the very beginning. The actual name is POPEYE'S SWEE'PEA WITH OLIVE OYL ...and it is said to contain all of Popeye's favorite - sweet peas, yams ( " I yam what I yam"), olive oil and of course spinach. :)