– 2½ cup green split peas, clean of debris and pebbles, and rinsed – 4 turkey sausage, or chicken sausages (optional) – 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes – 1 large carrot, peels and cut into cubes – 2 celery stalks, sliced – 1 sprig of fresh cilantro or parsley – 2 sprigs of thyme – 1 large yellow onion or red, cut into eighths – 4 allspice berries – 2 teaspoons salt (or more, to taste) – 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika  – 1½ teaspoon of garlic powder – 1½ quart [1½ lt] boiling-hot water – 4 teaspoons olive oil – ¼ teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper