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!