Cornish Game Hen for Two

Looking for a special main dish to cook for your sweetie? If your sweetie likes chicken and turkey, then Cornish game hen is guaranteed to be a success for your romantic, or holiday dinner.

Cornish game hen is my go to bird when Bill and I are tired of  our usual main dishes with beef, pork, turkey, chicken, and shellfish. Plus, game hens just make dinner seem a little more fancy.

Game bird halves cook faster than a whole bird. If you are tempted to turn the heat up, do not do it! Your bird will be dry and overcooked. Trust me, I know this from experience.

Slower heat and patience guarantees a bird with juicy, tender meat.  Higher heat will cook the bird quicker, but you maybe having a dry bird for dinner.
Ingredients

• 1 Cornish Game Hen, thawed and cut in half (along the backbone and through the breast)
• canola oil
• Rainbow Peppercorn Blend, or black pepper
• garlic powder
• fine sea salt, or table salt
• 2 Tbsp. salted butter, melted

NOTE: This recipe maybe doubled for 4 servings.

                                                 

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pour melted butter into a rectangular, 2 quart baking pan.
• Rub each game hen half with canola oil and 
• sprinkle with fresh ground, rainbow
• peppercorn blend; garlic powder, and fine sea salt.
• Put the oiled and seasoned halves, skin side down into the casserole pan.
• Place the casserole pan into the oven and bake the game hen halves for 30 minutes. Turn halves skin side up. 
• Continue cooking for another 30-40 minutes, or until the game hen is golden brown and the drumstick moves easily at the joint.
• Turn the oven off, but let the game hen rest in the oven for about 10-15 minutes before serving it.

Serve with your favorite veggie salad, pasta salad, and a side dish. Enjoy a special meal with your sweetie!
Revised 12/28/2016