Hearty Split Pea Soup with Turkey Sausage

Ingredients

• 2 cups [organic] dried split peas, picked over and rinsed
• 6 cups [organic] chicken broth or water
• 1/2 pound [organic] turkey kielbasa, split lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (I cook mine first)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large stalks celery, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt (or to taste)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf