Roast Cornish Game Hens With Cornbread Stuffing

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 (1 lb) cornish hens
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup dry wine
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups cornbread cubes
• 2 cups dry bread cubes
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 3/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 large eggs, beaten lightly
• 1/2-1 cup chicken broth
• salt and pepper, to taste

Recipe

• 1 remove the giblets from the hens, rinse with cold water and pat dry.
• 2 prepare the marinade- combine the vegetable oil, the wine, the chopped medium onion, the garlic, half of the rosemary, the 1/2 teaspoons salt and coarsely ground black pepper and the unsalted butter.
• 3 place the hens in a large food storage bag and pour the marinade over them.
• 4 close the bag securely and refrigerate for at least three hours.
• 5 shake the bag occasionally to coat the hens with the marinade.
• 6 prepare the stuffing- in saute pan, melt the salted butter.
• 7 saute the 1 cup chopped onions and celery in the butter until tender.
• 8 in a large bowl, toss the bread cubes with the sauteed onions and celery.
• 9 mix in the poultry seasoning, sage and remainder of the rosemary.
• 10 add the eggs and enough chicken broth to slightly moisten and barely bind the ingredients.
• 11 season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 12 preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• 13 remove the hens from the bag and pat dry with paper towels.
• 14 season the hens to taste inside and out with salt and pepper.
• 15 stuff the cavity loosely with the cornbread stuffing.
• 16 brush butter over the skin of the hens and place them breast side up in a roasting pan with enough space to allow room between the hens.
• 17 roast for 15 minutes to brown.
• 18 reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and baste frequently with pan drippings for 45 minutes.