Use the slow cooker to make no-fuss Cornish game hens with a delicious red currant jelly and cherries sauce. The shortcut stuffing begins with a mix and is improved with onions and chicken broth. These little birds make an elegant presentation, but they are so easy to make. If your crockpot is not large enough to accomodate four Cornish game hens, you can bake them in the oven.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours, 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup red currant jelly
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried red cherries
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick or 4 Tbsp) butter
- 1 cup chopped sweet onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried red cherries
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 (16 ounce) package seasoned stuffing mix
- 1 teaspoon (about) of browning sauce such as Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
- 4 Cornish game hens, thawed if frozen
Preparation:
Place rack in the bottom of a large slow cooker.
In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons of butter, red currant jelly, cherries, lemon juice, salt, and allspice. Stir over low heat until melted. Let cool.
In a large pot, saute onion and celery in 1/4 cup of the butter until soft and translucent. Add chicken broth, water, and additional 1/4 cup dried cherries. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add stuffing mix, tossing to combine. Let stuffing cool to room temperature.
Rub the skin of the birds with the browning sauce. (Promotes browning.) Stuff Cornish game hens and place on the rack in the crockpot.
Reserve 2/3 cup of cherry sauce and set aside. Brush remaining sauce over the skin of the stuffed Cornish hens. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
The Cornish game hens may be served whole or cut in half. Spoon reserved sauce over the poultry when you serve it.
Yield: 4 servings
Oven Method:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. Place a shallow rack in the bottom of the pan. Proceed as above, but bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until interior reaches 165 F. with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons of butter, red currant jelly, cherries, lemon juice, salt, and allspice. Stir over low heat until melted. Let cool.
In a large pot, saute onion and celery in 1/4 cup of the butter until soft and translucent. Add chicken broth, water, and additional 1/4 cup dried cherries. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add stuffing mix, tossing to combine. Let stuffing cool to room temperature.
Rub the skin of the birds with the browning sauce. (Promotes browning.) Stuff Cornish game hens and place on the rack in the crockpot.
Reserve 2/3 cup of cherry sauce and set aside. Brush remaining sauce over the skin of the stuffed Cornish hens. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
The Cornish game hens may be served whole or cut in half. Spoon reserved sauce over the poultry when you serve it.
Yield: 4 servings
Oven Method:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. Place a shallow rack in the bottom of the pan. Proceed as above, but bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until interior reaches 165 F. with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
