Recipe - Cornish Hens With Tomato Basil And Lemon Stuffing

4 Cornish game hens *;
1.251.5 lb. each
One half cup Fresh lemon juice
4 teaspoon Lemon pepper
2 cup Cherry tomatoes; quartered
One half cup Fennel; chopped
One fourth cup Fresh basil; chopped
4 lg Shallots; quartered
4 Cloves garlic; quartered
1 Bay leaf; quartered
4 sl Lemon
4 Sprigs fresh rosemary; 2
inches long

FRENCH ROASTED GARLIC
1 teaspoon Olive oil
8 Cloves garlic; outer skin
removed
1 Sprig rosemary

1. Heat oven to 375F. Rinse hens and drain. Combine lemon juice and lemon
pepper in large bowl; add hens, spooning lemon mixture in cavity of each
hen. Combine tomatoes, fennel, basil, shallots and garlic in medium bowl.

2. Drain hens, reserving lemon pepper juice. Place one quarter bay leaf, a
lemon slice and a rosemary sprig in cavity. Spoon in tomato mixture. Tie
legs of each hen together with string, or close cavities with toothpicks.
Place on rack in roasting pan. Spoon reserved lemonpepper juice on top.
Roast 1 hour.

3. Prepare French Roasted Garlic: Meanwhile, combine oil and 3 tablespoons
of water in 8inch square baking dish. Trim top One half inch from each bulb of
garlic, keeping cloves intact. Arrange cut side down in prepared dish; add
1 sprig rosemary. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes or until very soft.

4. Let hens stand covered 15 minutes. cut in half; remove and discard skin
and wind tips. Arrange halves on 8 dinner plates and spoon tomato stuffing
on top. Serve with 1 bulb garlic on each plate for dinners to squeeze
softened cloves out of skins onto hens.

Serving Ideas : Serve with French roasted garlic (recipe included).

Recipe by: Rosie Daley

Posted to TNT Prodigy's Recipe Exchange Newsletter by jjjenkins@juno.com
(J J Jenkins) on Nov 28, 1997