SPICED CORNISH HENS WITH CORNBREAD AND SAUSAGE STUFFING
Gina: Pat and I love, absolutely love, Cornish hens. One year we took a family vacation to Florida's Gulf Shore for Thanksgiving. When we got there, we had a beach view as well as the beach to ourselves. It was going to be a special Thanksgiving. Here's what happened: Before we left for our vacation, Pat begged me not to go overboard packing the foodstuffs. He said, "I don't want to smell collard greens up the road." Well, I said, "Too bad," because I knew stores might not be open, and I needed my ingredients for cooking the birds. See, ladies, this is why we are so special, because we know. Well, guess what, when we got to the coast, we couldn't find any stores that were open. So it was lucky for us that a smart momma had packed all her ingredients, and we were able to cook our entire Thanksgiving dinner. Long story short: It was a wonderful meal. We enjoyed our dinner overlooking a beautiful beach, and the meal remains one of our most cherished memories. Lesson here, ladies: Never let a man tell you what to pack! As for the birds, they are surprisingly easy to prepare. After the hens are rubbed with spices, the fragrant cornbread stuffing can be assembled in minutes in one skillet. The real appeal is the flavor and the stylish presentation. This recipe promises to be a holiday staple for years to come, with or without the view!
Yield serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients the salt, cumin, chile powder, black pepper, and allspice in a small bowl. Season both sides of the hens with this mix, and set them aside to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing.
- Cook the sausage in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until no pink remains, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate lined with paper towels; drain all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat, and add the oil. Add the onion, celery, and jalapeño, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the thyme, crumbled cornbread, sausage, chicken stock, parsley, and cilantro, if desired. Remove the skillet from the heat; taste the stuffing for seasoning, and add salt and pepper as desired.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease two 13 × 9 × 2-inch baking dishes with oil.
- Place the hens skin side down on a work surface. Pack one fourth of the stuffing into each cavity. Arrange the hens stuffing side down in the prepared dish. Brush the tops of the hens with the mustard. Roast the hens until they are golden brown and juices run clear when thighs are pierced, 50 to 55 minutes. Transfer the hens to a platter, and serve.
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