Creating Pea Soup with Cheese Dumplings is simple if you follow these steps:

1. Rinse and Soak Peas: In a bowl, rinse the dried peas thoroughly. Soak them in water for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.

2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

3. Add Peas and Broth: Drain and rinse the soaked peas, then add them to the pot. Pour in the vegetable broth and stir in thyme and bay leaf.

4. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 40 minutes or until the peas are soft.

5. Blend Soup: Remove the bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to purée the soup to your desired consistency. You can leave it slightly chunky for added texture or blend it completely for a smooth finish.

6. Prepare Dumplings: In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in shredded cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk milk and egg together. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients to form a dough.

7. Form Dumplings: Using your hands, form small balls of dough, about one inch in size.

8. Cook Dumplings: Once the soup is blended, gently drop the dumplings into the pot. Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through and fluffy.

9. Season to Taste: Before serving, season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.

10. Serve and Enjoy: Ladle the warm pea soup into bowls, making sure to include several cheese dumplings in each serving.