Split Pea Soup

olive oil or 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter

leeks, halved and sliced into ribbons

carrot, chopped small

large rib celery, chopped

Salt and freshly black pepper

garlic, cloves peeled and sliced thin

dried green split peas, rinsed and picked over

vegetable stock or broth.

to 3 sprigs of thyme, leaves still on (optional)

bay leaf

Fresh herb sauce (instructions up top)

Sour cream

slices of crumbled crisp bacon (obviously would no longer be vegetarian)

Garlicky or gruyere croutons