My Recipe Box - Cornish Hens

I am not making as many new recipes as I had hoped but it has been a busy summer!In the United States and Canada, a Cornish game hen, also sometimes called a Cornish hen, poussin, Rock Cornish hen, or simply Rock Cornish, is a hybrid chicken sold whole. Despite the name, it is not a game bird, but actually a type of domestic chicken. Though the bird is called a "hen", it can be either male or female. In addition to commanding a higher price, the game hens have a shorter growing span, 28 to 30 days as opposed to 42 or more for regular chicken.






The Rock Cornish game hen or Rock Cornish hen is a cross between the Cornish Game and Plymouth or White Rock chicken breeds. This breed develops a large breast over a short period of time compared to game hens. Rock Cornish game hens weigh about 2.5 pounds after four to six weeks, at which time they're slaughtered.

I made this after trying cornish hens at a friend's house. I had eaten these hens at various functions but didn't care for them until our friends made them on the BBQ!

Roasted Cornish Hens

Recipe source

yield:Makes 4 servings
active time:15 minutes
total time:1 1/4 hours
ingredients

2 (1 1/2-lb) Cornish game hens, halved lengthwise and backs removed
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1/8 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
preparation


Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F.

Pat hens dry and whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl.

Marinate hens in orange juice mixture in a sealed bag, chilled, 15 minutes.

Transfer hens, skin sides up, with marinade to a 13- by 9- by 3-inch roasting pan and roast, basting with juices every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes. After third basting, roast hens until skin is golden and juices run clear when a thigh is pierced, about 15 minutes more. Transfer hens to a platter and drizzle liberally with pan juices.

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