Skate, Italian Style

Put a skate into a saucepan with a clove of garlic, one bay leaf, one or two
sprigs of thyme, a small lump of butter, two cloves, and salt and pepper ; dredge in
a little flour, and cover the fish with milk. Boil gently until the skate is cooked,
then remove and drain it. Put in with the cooking stock a few boiled button onions,
and boil quickly for a few minutes. Sprinkle some grated cheese at the bottom of a
deep dish, put the skate on it, place the onions and some fried sippets of bread round
it, and strain the sauce over ; cover the top with grated cheese, and bake it for fifteen
minutes in a brisk oven. When ready, serve the skate in the same dish.