indiana ham and sweet potato soup

Ingredients For indiana ham and sweet potato soup

• 2

  medium-large about 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, washed dried and pierced
• 6

  about 3/4 lb carrots, topped, tailed and peeled
• 1 lg

  onion, peeled and quartered
• 1 lg

  clove of garlic, skin on
• 1 1/2 lb

  smoked ham hocks
• 8 c

  water
• 1 lb

  yellow split peas, rinsed
• 1 Tbsp

  butter
• 1 1/2 tsp

  rubbed (ground) sage
• 1 tsp

  cholula (mexican hot sauce)
• 1/4 tsp

  cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp

  salt
• 1/2 tsp

  pepper, freshly ground
• 1/4 c

  heavy cream
• 1 c

  diced ham steak
• 1 lg

  orange, zest of
• 1/2 c

  minced parsley
• 1 can

  fried potato sticks (optional)