Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Cornish Game Hen with Sweet Potatoes and Apples

Ever wonder what to do with those frozen game hens you see in your local grocery store freezer sections? Try this recipe for a simple flavorful meal.

Game Hen Ingredients
1 - game hen
4 - sprigs of rosemary
1/2 - small onion
10 - cloves of garlic
1/2 - lemon
1/2 cup - white wine
1/2 cup - chicken stock
1/2 cup - orange juice
1/2 tsp - corn starch
Oil (canola/olive oil blend) for coating hen
Salt and pepper for seasoning game hen

Pre heat oven to 450 degrees  

Coat the outside of the hen with enough oil so the spices will stick. Season the inside and outside of the hen with salt and pepper. Place 1/2 a lemon, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 1/2 a small onion inside the cavity of the bird. Tie up the legs and place the bird into a baking dish that will hold at least 2 cups of liquid. Scatter 10 cloves of garlic in the baking dish around the bird. Place the bird in the oven and cook for 25 minutes. When the time is up turn down the oven to 350 and pour in the wine, stock, and orange juice mixture. Place the remaining 2 sprigs of rosemary in the baking dish as well. Cook for another 25 minutes basting the bird every 8-10 minutes with the juices. When the 2nd 25 minutes is up remove the bird to a cutting board and let sit for 10 minutes. Pour about 2-3 TBS of the juice into a small mixing bowl and the rest of the juice into a sauce pan. Bring the sauce pan to a boil and reduce the liquid by 1/2 ( about 10 minutes). Whisk the juice in the mixing bowl with the 1/2 tsp of cornstarch to create a slurry. Add the slurry to the boiling pot about 7 minutes into the reduction. The sauce should coat a spoon but not be too thick. Taste for seasoning and serve along side the hen.

Use the roasted garlic cloves to smear on bread for a great simple garlic bread.

Sweet Potato and Apple Ingredients
1 - sweet potato, diced small
1 - red apple, diced small
1/2 - small onion, diced
2 - cloves of garlic, diced
1/4 cup - crasins, chopped
3 - sprigs of thyme
1/2 TBS - salt
1 tsp - pepper
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
2 TBS - canola/olive oil
1 TBS - balsamic vinegar

Start this recipe with about 12-15 minutes left in the cooking process of the bird. If you like your potatoes firmer with a crunch start at the 10 minute mark. Heat a pan over medium heat. When hot add about 1-2 TBS of oil and allow it to get hot. When hot add the onion, red chili flakes, 1/2 the salt and pepper and thyme sprigs. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes until onions start to turn translucent then add the garlic. Cook for an additional minute. Add the potatoes, remaining salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes then add the apples and crasins and cook for and additional 5-7 mintues. When the dish is about 2 minutes out from being done add the balsamic vinegar.  Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. To speed the recipe up you can cook the potatoes covered which will steam them a bit and cook them quicker.