Lentils and Feta Salad

Tiaposians, please be aware that Will is fine. He says it took him five minutes after arriving home to feel better. Poor guy missed Chef Picklenik's yummola persimmon upside down cake, though.

Mr., Ms. or Mrs. Anonymous has requested a recipe for Lentil/Feta Salad, so here it is. Please use balsamic vinegar in the amount called for, because that's where the dish gets its flavor. Many lentil dishes taste like the bottom of a pot of split pea soup looks, but this one is really yummy:

For 6 servings (easily doubled)

* 1 C lentils (French Puy Lentils or other lentils or even split yellow peas work fine)
* 1/2C diced carrots
* 1/2C finely diced red onion
* RECIPE CALLS FOR a bouquet garni -- a bay leaf, a dozen peppercorns and a few whole cloves tied in cheesecloth and discarded after cooking, BUT I USE: 1 bay leaf
1/2tsp ground red pepper (black pepper is fine)
1/2tsp ground cloves
* 2 large garlic cloves
* 2 1/2C water

* 2T plus 1t balsamic vinegar
* 3T olive oil
* Small chunks feta cheese -- maybe 4-6 oz. Use French feta if possible, it's milder.

Combine lentils, carrots, red onion, bay leaf-pepper-cloves, garlic and water in a large pot. This is the only part of this recipe to watch over. Different lentils or split peas take different amounts of time to cook. Check after 20 minutes, then maybe every ten minutes after that. They should hold their shape but be cooked through enough that your mate won't say "Yucko! Hard Little Rocks!" This should take roughly half an hour.

(HOWEVER, if you're listening to the Laker game and you forget to check the lentils, all is not lost. You just have to change the name of the dish from SALAD to SPREAD. It still tastes great. This is why French chefs use blackboards, chalk and erasers to announce their table d'Plot.)

Drain off excess liquid, season with salt and pepper, olive oil and vinegar. Let cool, then add small chunks (3/4" inch) of feta -- use enough so that each serving contains plenty of feta. Refrigerate and serve the next day. If you didn't finish it in one serving it would keep for a week in the fridge, but that won't happen.