Hot Soup on a Cold Day Pea Soup

For the first time in our marriage we own a Chihuahua, actually a mix with dachshund and Italian gray hound; it is a very small dog.  Normally we buy the larger model, like our Luna, the Siberian husky.  The sun was out for a bit this afternoon, so I took Fen out into the brisk fall air.  Since he has a wimpy summer coat and not the three layers that Luna had, we are forced to put a hoodie and coat on him least he freeze.  I will admit he did look totally adorable all dressed for the walk.  Out we went into the blowing leaves of fall to take a quarter mile stroll.  All of a sudden something that has never happened with our heavier dogs; an isolated wind gust, which looked like a small leaf tornado, swooped Fen in the wrong direction.  Thank God we always take Fen out on a leash; I cannot imaging where he would have landed otherwise.  I decided it was time to get home before something worse happens to our little nine pound dog.  The cold air is moving in and snow will not be too far behind, I’m sure the days of Fen begging for walks will disappear until spring.

            Walking out in the cool fall air gave me a desire for pea soup and cornbread.

            Hot Soup on a Cold Day Pea Soup

            Place one pound of dried peas in a soup pot.  Fill the pot with water swishing the pea around a bit to rinse them off then dumb the water.  Re-fill the pot to the 2/3 point.  Place water and peas into a 350 F oven for 2 hours stirring occasionally.  Add to the soup: 5 cubed potatoes, 3 carrots cut into small pieces, 2 stalks of celery, 2 bay leaves, ½ teaspoon of Thyme, salt and pepper.   In a frying pan cut up a pound of sausage links and brown them; just before they are completely finished add one chopped onion and sauté till tender.  Add the sausage and onion to the soup; two cloves of crushed garlic and 1 teaspoon of paprika.  Leave in oven until all the vegetables are nice and soft.