Holiday Harvest Cranberry Orange Cornish Hens



Another year and another Autumn and Winter! Familiar recipes abound! These Holiday Harvest Cranberry Orange Cornish Hens are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially if you have a small family. 


 Just a Pinch gets right to the point:

 


Holiday Harvest Cranberry Orange Cornish Hens


This is a wonderful recipe to experience all of the flavors of the holiday season without the huge task of roasting a massive turkey. Impressive enough for holidays for two or New Year's Eve, yet easy enough to enjoy any day of the week.

Cook time: 1 Hr 30 Min  Prep time: 20 Min  Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
STUFFED CORNISH HENS
4 cornish game hens
1 3/4 cup prepared long grain and wild rice blend, such as Uncle Ben's
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 tb. butter
1/2 cup finely chopped apple
1/2 cup dried cranberries (can use raisins)
1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
salt and pepper
melted butter
 
ORANGE BROWN SUGAR GLAZE
1 6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
3/4-1 cup brown sugar
2 tb. butter
 
Directions
1. Saute onions in 1 TB. butter until soft. Mix prepared rice, onions, apple, dried cranberries, (...or raisins, golden are nice) and poultry seasoning in a medium bowl.
 
2. Tuck wings of hens behind back. Season hens with salt and pepper. Spoon 1/2 cup stuffing into each hen. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Brush hens liberally with melted butter.
 
3. Place hens, breast side up, in shallow pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove hens from oven and baste with orange glaze. Return to oven and glaze again once or twice, discarding glaze after last basting.
 
4. Cook hens until an internal temperature of 170-180 degrees is reached, approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to one and one half hours, depending on the weight of the hens. Tent loosely with foil for 10 minutes and serve.
 
5. Instructions For Glaze: In small saucepan, combine orange juice, brown sugar and 2 TB. butter until sugar has melted and sauce is glossy and thickened.

 

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