Honey Baked Lentils

Honey Baked Lentils
(More-with-Less Cookbook p106)

Combine in a dutch oven or saucepan:
1 lb (2 1/3 c) lentils
1 small bay leaf
5 c water
2 tsp salt
Bring to a boil. Cover tightly and reduce heat. Simmer 30 minutes. Do not drain. Discard bay leaf.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine separately and add to lentils:
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 c chopped onions
1 c water
Cut in 1 inch pieces:
4 slices bacon
Stir most of the bacon into lentils and sprinkle remainder on top.
Pour over all:
1/3 c honey
Cover tightly. Bake 1 hour. Uncover last 10 minutes to brown bacon.

Options:
- Bacon may be partially precooked if desired. Substitute 1/2 lb. browned ground beef or sausage, or omit meat completely.
- Delicious served with hot baked rice. Pass soy sauce.
- Replace ginger, soy sauce, and 1 c water in second group of ingredients with 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 tsp oregano, 2 c tomato sauce. Omit honey.


Tessa Dueck