Split Pea Sausage Soup

We finally pulled out the tree from the basement and put it up.  I went down to break out all of the ornaments to decorate when I suddenly realized I sold them at our yard sale this last summer.  I know, I could not believe it myself!!!  I was trying to remember the reasoning behind this moment of insanity when it dawned on me that I thought Joe (my husband) and I would be spending Christmas in California with our children and grandchildren and therefore, would have no need for a tree. Oh well maybe another Christmas.

In the meantime I decided to improvise and look through what I had in my craft boxes to see what I could use.  The picture above is just that, my improvised decorating.  The cute dog in the picture is J.J., he is trying to get a better view of what his mom had just done.

After all of that I decided to make some warm hearty Split Pea Soup.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Split pea soup is so thick and hearty, it's a meal in itself.


Not only do split peas make a thick and hearty pot of soup, they're also an excellent source of protein, folate and fiber. Once you add some vegetables and slice a few thick pieces of fresh multi-grain bread to serve on the side, you've got a deeply satisfying meal that's low in fat and high in flavor and nutrition



Ingredients:


1 pound smoked kielbasa

1 pound dried split peas

6 cups water

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

2 bay leaves


Directions:


Cut sausage in half lengthwise; cut into 1/4-in. pieces. Place in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until peas are tender. Remove bay leaves.