Melt butter in pot. Add vegetables and saute over medium heat until lightly browned. Add chicken stock and nuts. Cover pot and simmer for 1 hour. Season to taste.

Melt butter in pot. Add vegetables and saute over medium heat until lightly browned. Add chicken stock and nuts. Cover pot and simmer for 1 hour. Season to taste.
This is the type of dish that goes perfectly with a chilly autumn day or a frosty winter afternoon. Braise them a day ahead and the flavor will deepen overnight in the refrigerator.
Yellow split peas have a more delicate flavor and prettier color than their green cousin but either one creates a hearty soup that draws a lot of flavor and meat from smoked ham hocks. Letting the finished soup sit or “cure” in the refrigerator for a couple of days will continue to improve the flavor.