Creamy Low Fat Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried split peas
• 1 pound  low fat chicken sausage of your choice, cut into very small pieces
• 6 cans of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups chopped carrot, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup chopped celery, cut into small pieces
• 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped into very small pieces
• 1 tsp teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp sugar or agave nectar
• 2 tsp of Costco no salt seasoning
• 1 tbsp dried dill
• 1 tsp of turmeric
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Worcestershire
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 onion, chopped very fine
• 1 bag of frozen peas
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 4 pieces of bacon cooked until crispy and chopped (optional)

Directions

  In a large pan coated with 1 tsp oil, brown chicken sausage, carrots, potatoes and celery.

 In a large pot add dried split peas, chicken broth, all seasonings, and chicken sausage mixture.

   Cover, and cook on medium for approximately 2 hours, or until spilt peas are soft.

  Add the frozen bag of peas and cook for 30 minutes more. 

   Using a potato masher, smash cooked peas until most are incorporated. 

   Remove bay leaves before ladling into bowls.

   Serve with a handful of crunchy croutons and 1 tsp of crumpled crispy bacon on top…yum!