Lentil salad with Lemon French Dressing

Heres a nice easy Lentil salad. This recipe is good because it is high in protien and as it stands is totally vegetarian BUT you can add cooked meats! (or tofu) like left over chicken we all seem to have lol
Ingredients:
•3 cups lentils
•Water
•1 large onion, 1/4" diced
•2 garlic cloves, peeled, chopped
•1 medium carrot, 1/4" diced
•1 celery stalk, 1/4" diced
•2 bay leaves
•6 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
•Salt
•Freshly ground pepper
•Tomato, diced 1"
•1/4 cup minced parsley
•.
•Lemon French Dressing:
•1/3 cup olive oil
•3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or to taste)
•1 mashed garlic clove
•1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
•Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
Put the lentils into a large saucepan. Add water to cover plus 3 inches. Bring to the boiling point and lower heat to very low. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and bay leaves. Simmer covered for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender but not mushy; they must retain their shape.

Drain the lentils. Put the lentils into a bowl while they are still hot. Add the green onions, tomatoes and the French dressing. Mix well. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Cool the lentils, then cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours to blend the flavors.