Saltkjot og Baunir

Description
Icelandic salted lamb and pea soup. Saltkjot og baunir is what most Icelanders eat on Shrove Tuesday, or "sprengidagur" (literally "bursting day").
 * Serve hot as a meal to 8 people.

Ingredients

 * ½ lb yellow split peas
 * 8 cups water
 * 1 onion chopped
 * 2 tsp dried thyme rubbed between the palms of your hands
 * ¼ lb bacon cubed
 * 2½ lb salted lamb shoulder cut large chunks
 * 1 lb rutabagas cut large cubes
 * 1 lb potatoes peeled, and cut in thick slices
 * ½ lb carrots cut in pieces
 * freshly-ground black pepper to taste
 * salt if needed

Directions

 * 1) Put the peas in a large pan and add water.
 * 2) Bring to the boil, skim, then add thyme and onion.
 * 3) Simmer, covered, for 45 minutes.
 * 4) Add the bacon and one piece of meat to the soup and boil the rest of the meat in a separate pan.
 * 5) Simmer the soup with the meat for around 30 minutes, stirring frequently and adding more water if needed.
 * 6) Add the vegetables and cook for 20 minutes, or until tender.
 * 7) Season to taste with pepper and salt, if needed.
 * 8) The bean soup should be thick (when cold it almost becomes like pease pudding).
 * 9) The meat and vegetables may be served on a separate plate and eaten with the soup, or cut up small and returned to the soup.