Green Lentils with Bacon

8 sliced bacon, chopped
water to barely cover

Render bacon pieces slowly in water until crisped (5 min. med high heat)

1 large onion, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 me. carrots, scrubbed and coursely grated or finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced

Toss above ingredients and cook 3-4 minutes.  Stir in lentils, water, salt, bay leaf.  Bring to boil, then lower heat until liquid is just simmering.  Cook until lentils are tender and most water is absorbed.  

At this point, you can ad a little vinegar (1 tsp) and any fresh herbs you fancy - tarragon or summer savory are good.  Let it sit covered and off the heat for the rest of the water to be absorbed.