Fool Proof Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

I have made this a couple times now and thought I should share the recipe.
In a crock pot place the following ingredients in this order:

• 16 oz. dried split peas
• 2 small smoked ham hocks (optional - for those of you who want it)
• 4 medium sized carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 celery ribs, chopped (with leaves intact)
• 1 celery heart (take it out of the center of the bunch, this is yellowish colored and full of leaves = full of flavor) chopped
• 1/2 Cup chopped onion (sometimes I use leeks or green onion if I have them on hand)
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced (you can add less if you want, but why would you?)
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 tsp. Seasoning Salt (or less, to taste)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp dried parsley - if you have fresh, use 1 1/2 tsp.
• 1 1/2 Quarts (6 cups) of hot water - if you make this soup vegetarian, use half broth, half water.

Cover your crock pot and walk away.

Cook in low 8-10 hours or high 4-6 hours until peas are soft. You can mash the peas up if you want, but I just leave mine (why dirty more tools, right?). If you are making this with the ham hocks, remove them and remove the meat from the bone and add to the soup before serving.

Serves 4-8 depending on if you are making it a meal or a side.