Recipe for Nero Wolfe's Lamb Kidneys Bourguignonne

Ingredients

18 lamb kidneys
1/2 cup flour
1 salt
1 pepper, freshly ground
6 tablespoon butter
2 shallots, minced
1/2 lb mushrooms, minced
2 cup dry red wine
1/2 bay leaf
1 tablespoon minced watercress
1 tablespoon minced celery
1/4 teaspoon thyme

Instructions

1>. Soak the kidneys in cold water for 10 minutes. Remove the membranes and connective tissue and cut the kidneys across in half. 2>. Season the flour with the salt and pepper and dredge the kidneys. Saute them in 4 tablespoons of the butter and set aside. Add the shallots and mushrooms to the butter. Sprinkle with two tablespoons of the dredging flour and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3>. Add the wine, bay leaf, watercress, celery, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a few grindings of black pepper. Stir well and add the kidneys; cover the skillet and simmer gently for 25 minutes. 4>. When ready to serve, remove the bay leaf, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and correct the seasoning. Serve over rice.