Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      Pound         Green Split Peas
   3      Quarts        Water
   1 1/2  Teaspoons     Salt
   2 1/2  Tablespoons   Butter
   1 1/2  Cups          Carrots -- sliced
   1      Cup           Sweet Potato -- diced
   1      Cup           Chopped Onion
     1/2  Cup           Celery -- chopped
     1/2  Teaspoon      Marjoram
     1/2  Teaspoon      Cumin
   1      Teaspoon      Basil
   2      Cloves        Garlic -- minced
     1/2  Cup           White Wine
                        Black Pepper -- to taste

Preparation:

Put peas in large pot with water and salt; bring to boil, lower heat and simmer for 1 hour. Skim off foam and discard. Saut finely chopped carrots, sweet potato, onion and celery for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add herbs, cook vegetables for another 5 minutes, then add to soup. Simmer soup, stirring occasionally, for another 45 min to 1 hour. Remove approximately half the soup, pure. Return pure to pot, add wine and pepper, and stir. Bring soup back to simmer before serving.