Honey I Shrunk The Chicken – Lavender Lemon Honey Cornish Hens!

Chicken is a staple in many of our diets. There are countless ways to prepare it but it doesn’t seem as special sometimes. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a chicken fan but… ya know… sometimes it seems a bit boring. Chicken again?

Well, there’s a delicious option to have your chicken and eat it too – Cornish hens! They’re just “little chickens” but they make such an impact when you present them. They are delicious, especially when you prepare them as I’m showing you today! And just as roasting a chicken is as simple as it gets, the same goes for Cornish hens.

Here’s how:

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cornish hens, washed and pat dry
• 4 tbsp butter, room temperature
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp culinary lavender
• 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 sprigs + 1 tsp fresh rosemary
• 2 sprigs + 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 2 sprigs fresh parsley
• 1 lemon, quartered
• salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
1) Mix butter, honey, lemon juice, lavender, rosemary, and thyme. Set aside.
2) Stuff the cavity of each hen with lemon, parsley, rosemary, thyme. Season with salt & pepper, then massage the butter mixture over the whole hen.
3) Roast at 450° for 25 minutes then lower the oven to 350°, roasting an additional 25 minutes or until golden brown and the juices run clear. You can also check that the internal temperature is 165° with a meat thermometer. Baste with juices about every 10 minutes. Tent and let rest 10-15 minutes. Plate, spoon juices over the top, and serve.

Wow! A cute little hen packed with a subtle sweet & savory finish. Moist, flavorful, and impressive! You might want to serve our Potato Roses with this. Come to think of it, this is quite a romantic little meal! Ooooh la la! 

Annette