Best Hens Breakfest Nest Recipes

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

GAME HENS WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Game hens are even easier to prepare than chicken and help make your celebration more festive. Their buttery flavor complements roasted Brussels sprouts and chestnuts.;
• 1. Preheat oven to 375degreesF. Combine thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. 2. Remove giblets (if included) from game hens and trim any excess skin. Loosen the skin over the breast and thigh meat and rub half the thyme mixture under the skin. Tie legs together with kitchen string. 3. Heat butter and oil in a large roasting pan set over 2 burners on medium heat. Add the game hens and brown on all sides, turning occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. 4. Add onion to the pan, transfer to the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and roast for 20 minutes. Stir chestnuts and the remaining thyme mixture into the pan. Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a thigh registers 165degreesF, 10 to 15 minutes more. 5. Transfer the game hens to a large cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Place the roasting pan over 2 burners on medium heat. Toss the vegetables with vinegar and bring to a simmer, gently stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Remove the string from the game hens, turn breast-side down and slice in half lengthwise using a large heavy knife, cutting straight through to the breast side. Serve the game hens with the vegetables.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 313 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 93 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbohydrate; 24 g protein; 6 g fiber; 656 mg sodium; 875 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (140% daily value), Potassium (25% dv), Folate (23% dv), Vitamin A & Iron (15% dv). 2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat
• TIP: Shopping tip: Cooked peeled chestnuts are available in jars in the baking aisle or with seasonal foods at many supermarkets.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Equipment: Kitchen string
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

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.

HEN IN A NEST

Steps:

• 1. You will either need a drinking glass or cookie/biscuit cutter. Cut a whole in the center of the bread
• 2. In frying pan set to medium heat, melt a slab of butter Butter both sides of the bread and place in the pan to brown the first side.
• 3. When bread is lightly toasted brown on the bottom, crack your egg into the hole. Note: if the pan seems dry of butter you may want to add a little inside the round opening before adding the egg.
• 4. Allow egg to cook whites solid on the one side before you flip the hen and nest brown opposite side of bread. Serve immediately!