Poussins Or Cornish Hens With Rosemary Orange And Shallots Food

CLEMENTINE AND CRANBERRY GLAZED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan, saute the shallots in the butter over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in the clementine zest and juice, cranberry, brown sugar and rosemary. Simmer until thick, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Season the game hens liberally with salt and pepper. Using a basting brush, paint each bird entirely with the glaze. Cover the wing tips with foil to keep them from blackening too much.
• Place the glazed birds in an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven. Roast for 20 minutes, and then reglaze the birds. Check after 15 more minutes; if the sugars in the glaze are turning too brown, lightly tent the Dutch oven with foil to protect the skins. Baste again after 45 more minutes, then check with an instant-read thermometer after another 5 minutes; the thighs must register at 165 degrees F, the breasts at 170. Let rest for 10 minutes and serve.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Place 1 lemon wedge and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of each hen. Arrange in a large, heavy roasting pan, and arrange garlic cloves around hens. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; pour over hens. Continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes.
• Transfer hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. Tent hens with aluminum foil to keep warm. Transfer pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency, about 6 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise and arrange on plates. Spoon sauce and garlic around hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, and serve.

CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a roasting pan. Remove the giblets from the hens, and rinse them inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outsides dry. Place the hens on top of the sliced onion.
• Pack the cavities of the hens with the cornbread stuffing.
• Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the hens. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast the hens for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.
• Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Break the cornbread into pieces and place the pieces in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture to the cornbread. Add the celery, chicken stock, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix together.
• Yield: 2 servings

POUSSINS OR CORNISH HENS WITH ROSEMARY, ORANGE AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• The day before, start the stock. Roast the veal bones, chicken necks and bones, onion, garlic and carrots in the oven until well browned. Place in a stock pot with leeks, wine, tomatoes, tomato paste, peppercorns, thyme, parsley and water. Simmer uncovered, for four hours, adding water if necessary (cook for a half-hour after adding extra water). Strain the stock and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the orange in half and cut one half in four slices. Place half a slice inside each poussin; squeeze the juice from the remaining orange half over each poussin. Place some rosemary leaves inside, leaving plenty for the garnish. Sprinkle with oil, season with salt and pepper and truss.
• Place the poussins on their side in a roasting pan with the shallots. Roast for 15 minutes, turn on the other side and roast a further 15 minutes. Finish breast-up, place in a serving dish and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, remove stock from refrigerator and take off the fat, which will be solid. Put the stock in a saucepan and reduce to one-and-a-half cups. Remove the shallots from the roasting pan and keep warm. Degrease the cooking juices from the poussins and add to the stock. Reduce to one-and-a-half cups and correct seasoning. Just before serving, swirl in the butter. Place in a heated sauce boat and keep warm.
• Place the poussins on a serving dish and then arrange shallots around them and garnish liberally with sprigs of rosemary. Pass the sauce separately.

ROSEMARY ROAST CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Remove the giblets from the hens. Rinse the hens with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
• Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place the hens in a large self-sealing food-storage bag and pour the marinade over them. Close the bag securely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Shake the bag once or twice to coat the hens evenly with the marinade. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Remove the hens from the plastic bag and pat dry with paper towels. Season the hens inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity loosely with the Cornbread Herbed Stuffing. Rub or brush butter over the skin of the hens and place the hens breast side up in a shallow roasting pan, large enough to allow space between the hens.
• Roast for 15 minutes to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and baste frequently with pan drippings and melted butter. Continue roasting for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the flesh is pierced with a sharp knife.
• In saute pan, melt the butter. Saute the onions and celery in the butter until tender. In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with onions, celery, poultry seasoning, and herbs. Add the eggs and enough chicken stock to slightly moisten and barely bind the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Yield: 9 to 10 cups;

CASSEROLE OF CORNISH HENS AND NEW POTATOES

Steps:

• Rinse and dry the hens inside and out. Season the cavities with salt and pepper. Tuck some of the herbs into the cavities of each of the hens. Tuck the wing tips back and tie the legs with butcher's cord.
• Melt the butter in a large, heavy casserole that will hold the hens. Brown the hens on all sides on top of the stove. Remove them from the casserole.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Add the shallots to the casserole and saute over medium heat until tender and barely beginning to brown. Stir in the garlic, cook briefly, then stir in the wine and stock. Remove from the heat.
• Place the hens in the casserole, cover and place in the oven for 25 minutes.
• While the hens are roasting, boil the potatoes in salted water until they are just tender, about 20 minutes.
• When the hens are done, remove them to a warm serving platter. Place the casserole on top of the stove and add the potatoes. Simmer very gently for about five minutes, gently turning the potatoes in the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add any juices that have drained from the hens onto the serving platter.
• Wipe the rim of the serving platter with a paper towel. Arrange the hens on the platter and spoon the sauce with the potatoes around them. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.