Split Pea Soup with Veggies and Wild Rice for the Whole Family

I have loved split pea soup for as long as I can remember, and my little guy has definitely inherited a love for it too. I posted a more traditional recipe for pea soup a few months ago, but this recipe is a little more adventurous (OK not really adventurous, but not really traditional either). Begin this soup in the morning or early afternoon and let it simmer all day. You can serve this to little ones 8+ months. This will stay good in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, and in the freezer for 2 months.

Here's what you need:
1 1/2 cup organic split peas
8 cups low sodium chicken stock or broth
1 cup wild rice
2 tsp salt
4 cloves garlic minced
1 onion finely diced
1 cup chopped organic carrots
1 package organic frozen spinach
1 can cannellini beans drained
1 14 1/2 oz can organic diced tomatoes in juice
ground pepper to taste

Put the first 4 ingredients in a large deep pot. Cover and simmer for 3 to 4 hours stirring occasionally. After 3 hours, saute onion, garlic and carrots in a little oil and add them to the soup pot. Add frozen spinach to pot and continue to simmer on low heat stirring occasionally for another hour or two (I let this soup simmer all day). About 30 minutes before you are going to serve add the cannellini beans and diced tomatoes to the soup pot. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. You can also puree this for your little one. Enjoy!