GLAZED CORNISH HENS with HONEY, SOY SAUCE and LEMON

GLAZED CORNISH HENS with HONEY, SOY SAUCE and LEMON

2 Cornish game hens

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground rosemary

1-1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

1-1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided

2 garlic cloves, divided

2 half-slice lemon wedges

4 sprigs parsley

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, 1 teaspoon of pepper and the rosemary in a small bowl. Pulverize one garlic clove with 1 teaspoon of the salt until finely mashed. Add to the ingredients in the bowl and whisk well.

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and place 1/2 piece of garlic, lemon wedge and 2 sprigs parsley in the cavities of the Cornish hens. Place the hens in a medium baking pan on a rack (rack is optional.) Brush the hens all over with the glaze mixture.

Roast breast side up for 15 minutes. Baste with some of the remaining glaze. Reduce oven heat to 375 degrees. Roast for 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and flip the hens breast side down. Baste. Return to oven for 15 minutes. Baste again and flip back to breast side up. Baste every 5 minutes until the hens are golden brown. Test for doneness by piercing the thick part of a thigh with a fork. If the juices are clear, the hens are cooked through. (You may also test for doneness with an instant-read thermometer for an internal temperature of 170.)

Remove from oven and allow to rest in pan for 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.

Serves 2.