Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      medium        onions
   2      teaspoons     vegetable shortening
   8      cups          water
   2      cups          red lentils
     1/4  teaspoon      turmeric
   3      cloves        garlic
                        salt and pepper -- to taste
                        heavy cream

Preparation:

Peel and chop onions. Saute them in the shortening until golden brown. Reserve. Pour the water into a soup kettle and add the lentils, turmeric, and garlic. Cook over very low heat, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours. Strain the soup into a bowl, pressing the lentils through the strainer. Add the onion and salt. Cook for a few minutes over a very low heat. Adjust the seasonings. thin the soup to desired consistency with heavy cream. Reheat if necessary. Serve hot.