Split Pea & Kielbasa Soup
Tonight I made this delicious Split Pea & Kielbasa soup. Rob had four servings! I had two. For some reason, making this soup brought back a lot of memories. I called my mom, just to say hello, as I remembered years-gone-by when my mom stirred her pot of soup too.
When I was little, my mom would take great pride in her soups and stews. Me, being me… I thought I hated soups and stews. I liked “real food.” I remember picking the meat and potatoes out of my mother’s stews and leaving the broth. As an adult, I realize now what an ungrateful child I was. I guess hadn’t yet realized the value of a dollar.
Lessons learned
Tonight, I was standing in my kitchen, stirring my pot of Split Pea & Kielbasa Soup, thinking about the lessons I’ve had to learn through the years. Right now, Rob and I are probably the poorest we’ve ever been financially due to a very expensive move and my current immigration status. I’m in charge of groceries and I’m desperately trying to keep our meals within budget – this month, our homeowner fees increased substantially so our frugal grocery budget is now even more meager. We refuse to sacrifice our health so our meals remain healthy and nutritious but within budget. It isn’t easy.
Thankfully, I’m the type of woman that enjoys a good challenge. Each week, I analyze the cost of our proposed meal plan and compare the pricing from our local market, Peapod, Amazon, and Jet.com. I find the lowest cost from each source. Yes, it does take time, but the hour I spend running my comparisons saves us so much money.
I write this recipe post, almost as an apology.
In my quest to provide a health-minded nutrition plan for my family while maintaining a frugal grocery budget, I’ve come to realize that the foods I’m putting on my table today, are the same ones my mother put on the table years ago. I write this recipe post, almost as an apology. Had I known then, what I know now about the cost of living and life itself, I would have thanked my mom for the delicious soups instead of grimacing. I would have told her that I actually liked it, and licked my bowl clean. I would have been awestruck that she could make an affordable and delicious meal, out of nothing. I would have been a better child.
For my mom
This Split Pea and Kielbasa soup is dedicated to my mom. As I age, I’m realizing how much I passively learned from her, even though she didn’t know I was watching.
Tonight, Rob and I enjoyed this delicious soup, we licked our bowls clean and chatted about meals our moms used to make us.
I was so proud of this soup; my bag of dried split peas cost me only $1.29 and I only used a portion of it. So, mom – this one’s for you! Thank you for all those soups and stews I “said” I didn’t like. Now, I’ll tell you, I was being difficult. Back then, there was so much I didn’t realize. There is so much I didn’t know to appreciate. That said, I’m living and I’m learning. Thank you, for everything.
Split Pea & Kielbasa Soup
Ingredients
- 12 oz dried split peas
- 32 oz beef broth
- 16 oz kielbasa sausage
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Cut sausage into small 1/4 inch cubes. Place 1/4 of sausage and 8 oz of beef broth in blender. Puree.
- Bring remaining 24 oz of beef broth to a simmering boil in large pot.
- Add diced onion, sausage cubes, puree, bay leaf, and salt and pepper (to taste) to beef broth. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Rinse split peas and add to simmering pot. Add carrots. Simmer until peas are soft but NOT mushy, roughly 40 minutes. Serve.
