Split pea soup recipe

(WTNH) - Food Writer Stephen Fries warms up the kitchen with a split pea soup recipe.

Split pea soup
Ingredients:
1/2 pound dried split peas, rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 carrot, halved and sliced
1 celery stalk, halved and sliced
1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup bacon pieces
4 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoon chicken base
White pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Optional, 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:
Place onion, carrot and celery in bowl and set aside.
Place oil in soup pot and turn heat to high. Add bacon, garlic, vegetables and sauté for 2 minutes. Add peas, water, chicken base , paprika, white pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about an hour or until peas are soft. Remove bay leaf.  Use an emulsion blender to puree the soup to desired consistency. Optional, drizzle with sour cream.