One pint of lentils
Two quarts of broth
One onion, sliced
Parsley and thyme, chopped
One bay leaf
Two ounces of butter

For garnish
Croutons (fried bread)

"Soak one pint of lentils in cold water all night. Strain and wash them again, then put them in an earthen pot with two quarts of broth and simmer for one and a half hours. Fry one sliced onion, a little chopped parsley and thyme, and one bay leaf in two ounces of butter. Add these to the lentils and simmer for another half-hour. Rub through a sieve and boil, season with salt and pepper. serve with croutons (fried bread)."

This recipe was taken from "Leaves from our Tuscan Kitchen or, How to Cook Vegetables" by Ann Janet Ross. The book was published by JM Dent & Co. in 1900 (London). For the complete cookbook see www.archive.org. For a variety of recipes from this cookbook see Italy Revisited/ "XXX Cookbooks in the Public Domain".... Photo: Mary Melfi.

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