Split Pea Soup w/ Smoked Ham

I loved Anderson's Split Pea Soup and I've always talked it up to Matt and he's wanted to try it, but since there isn't an Anderson's anywhere around us and this is the perfect time of year to have some split pea soup, I decided to try and make it myself.  And I must say, it was awesome!!  Maybe even better than Anderson's.
This recipe is adapted from my BC cookbook.

2-1/4 cups (1 lb.) dried split peas, sorted and rinsed
7 cups liquid (I used 4c. chicken broth & 3c. water)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 large onions chopped (2 cups)
2 cloves garlic chopped (I used large cloves)
2 medium stalks celery chopped (1 cup)
3 medium carrots thinly sliced (1-1/2 cups)
1 - 2 lb smoked ham

In a 4 - 6 quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients.  Cover and cook on Low heat setting 6 - 8 hours until peas are tender.  Remove ham and let stand until cool enough to handle.  Puree soup until smooth.  Chop ham and add back into soup.

Notes: 
I used a blender to puree my soup and you have to be very careful, and SHOULD only do 2 cups at a time.  Ideally an immersion blender would be perfect for this, but I don't have one.
I always use homemade or low sodium broths when I cook and most times replace water with broth.