Oven Baked Split Pea Soup

the wonderful thing about this soup, other that the outstanding taste, is the convenience of baking in the oven, unattended..

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb  split peas
• 8  cups water
• 1 1⁄2 cups  diced carrots
• 1 1⁄2 cups  diced celery
• 1⁄2 cup  diced onion
• 1⁄2 cup parsley sprig
• 2  teaspoons dried thyme
• 1  teaspoon celery seed
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  lb  fully cooked smoked kielbasa, coarsely chopped in food processor
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  bitters

Directions

1. preheat the oven to 350*.
2. rinse the split peas in cold water, then place in a large kettle with all the remaining ingredients except the sausage and bitters,.
3. bake, covered for 2 hours.
4. remove from oven and cool.
5. discard bay leaf and puree the soup in food processor, working in batches, until smooth.
6. return to kettle.
7. add the chopped sausage and bitters.
8. bake 30 minutes longer or until the sausage is heated thoroughly.