Homemade Pea Soup

I decided that this would be the weekend I would make my Grandma's homemade pea soup. It has been a long time. We were actually home on Saturday, so it was the perfect time for it. You have to soak the peas over night in water and baking soda. Then in the morning I started the soup. It's really pretty easy. You just add water and begin boiling the peas. Add chopped potatoes and carrots to the water. Boil stew meat and onion slowly in a separate pan. When potatoes and carrots are softening, then add the meat and juice to the soup mixture. Continue to cook adding beef base and 1 tsp of baking soda. The soda must help break up the peas. Then the soup will thicken up and it's ready to eat. Boy, has it been good in this cool weather.