Cornish Hens With Cranberry Stuffing Recipes

CRANBERRY-STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out diced bread on a rimmed baking sheet; toastin oven, turning occasionally, until light brown and dry, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside.
• Raise oven temperature to 450 degrees. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add leek, mushrooms, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in bread, chopped sage, parsley, mustard, thyme, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, and 1/2 cup broth.
• Spoon stuffing into bird cavities; tie legs together with kitchen twine. Rub birds with butter, then sprinkle with pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Arrange birds on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Roast until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thighs (avoiding bone) registers 170 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer rack with birds to a rimmed baking sheet, and let rest.
• Set roasting pan on top of stove across two burners; set heat to medium-high. Add port and remaining 1/4 cup broth; deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom with a wooden spoon. Add remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries; cook, stirring, until sauce reduces slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Place birds on a serving platter, and drizzle sauce over them. Garnish with sage leaves, if desired, and serve.

STUFFED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH CRANBERRY GLAZE

Steps:

• Prepare the glaze: Combine cranberries and wine in saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in honey and continue to simmer 2 minutes.
• Strain glaze, stir in oil and set aside.
• Prepare the game hens and stuffing: Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat, add onion, celery and cranberries.
• Saute for 3 minutes.
• Add sauteed mixture to the French bread cubes.
• Let cool.
• Stir in chicken broth, parsley, sage, thyme, 1/4 Tsp.
• salt and 1/8 Tsp.
• pepper.
• Stuff game hens with the stuffing and tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
• Place hens in a roasting pan.
• Brush some of glaze over each game hen and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.
• Place in a preheated 450 degree oven for 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue roasting for 45 minutes longer.
• Baste hens with glaze and sprinkle with salt and pepper (salt& pepper is optional, I didn't do it) twice more during the cooking time.
• Remove hens from oven and let rest 5 minutes.
• Cut strings and serve.

CRANBERRY APPLE STUFFED CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Rinse cornish hens and pat dry. Season liberally with kosher salt and pepper on the outside and inside the cavities.
• Mix the apples, cranberries, rosemary, garlic and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small bowl.
• Spoon the mixture into the cavities of the cornish hens.
• Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and place in a 10 or 12 inch cast iron skillet or appropriate sized baking dish.
• Scatter the potatoes around the cornish hens in the skillet.
• Drizzle both hens and potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and dot on top of the chicken as well as the potatoes.
• Place the skillet in the oven and roast for about 1 hour until the skin has turned golden brown and crispy, the potatoes start to shrivel and the internal temperature of the chicken is about 180 degrees.
• Remove from the oven, let rest a few minutes before carving. Serve with accumulated juices from the bottom of the skillet.

ROCK CORNISH GAME HEN WITH CRANBERRY-PECAN STUFFING --

Steps:

• 1. Remove giblets from the defrosted hen. Rinse in cold water and pat dry before stuffing.
• 2. Brown the bread crumbs in butter, add the nuts, salt and pepper. Stir in the dried cranberries.
• 3. Fill the game hen cavity, loosely, with the crumb mixture.
• 4. Combine the honey, orange juice concentrate, butter and paprika, stir well.
• 5. Place the stuffed hen in a shallow roasting pan. Brush with the honey butter.
• 6. While roasting the hen, baste several more times to achieve a nice brown coating.
• 7. Roast 350 degrees, about 1 hour, or until the drumstick feels loose.
• 8. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.