French American Pea Soup

Ingredients

 * 1/2 lb bacon
 * 10 baby carrots, chopped
 * 1 red onion, diced
 * 1 lb split peas, sorted and rinsed
 * 1 teaspoon dried thyme
 * 7 cups water
 * 2 bay leaves
 * salt
 * sour cream
 * Tabasco sauce or hot sauce, of choice
 * fresh chives, chopped

Directions
Garnish each with a dollop of sour cream.
 * In a saucepan cook the bacon till it's done for 15 minutes
 * Remove bacon, break or chop it up coarsely
 * Add the carrots, onion, thyme, and bay leaves to the pan toss to coat with pan drippings
 * Cook 5 mintues.
 * Add split peas and cooked bacon, stir well and cook another 5 minutes.
 * Add 8 cups of water and boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
 * When the peas have absorbed about half the water, add salt to taste
 * Continue to simmer until the peas are very soft and almost
 * Stir and check often to ensure the bottom does not burn
 * Remove bay leaves and place soup in bowls.