Trinidad Corn Soup

1. Finely chop onion, garlic, celery stalk, carrot, red pepper and green pepper, set aside.  Melt butter in a deep pot, add all finely chopped vegetables and corn. Add salt, black pepper, parsley, and thyme, saute for 1-2 minutes then add 3 cups water, bring to a low boil for 35-40 minutes.   Add more water 1/2 cup at a time if split peas still need to cook more.
2. Once split peas are completely soft, use a blender to puree soup.  
3. Add coconut milk, 4 cups water, salt or bouillon cube, black pepper, and scotch bonnet if using.  Stir and bring to a low boil, about 20-25 minutes.
4. Make dumplings, set aside.
5. While soup boils, peel and chop plantains into 2 inches.  If using fresh corn on the cob, chop into 4 inch pieces.   Add corn kernels, corn ears, diced carrots, and plantains to soup.  Break dumpling dough into pieces and drop into soup.  Let vegetables and dumplings cook until plantains are cooked through.
6. Remove from heat and adjust salt and black pepper to taste.

Tips

* Spinach, potatoes, cassava, edoes, or ochroes can all be added to this soup based on your preference. 
* If soup is too thick the next day, add a little bit of water and reheat on stove top. 
* Buy and immersion blender, it will make your soup making feats so much easier! You don't have to break the bank for one of these, here is a good one at a decent price.  This is the one I own, which was a gift.