Bacon Wrapped Cornish Hens With Raspberry Balsamic Glaze Recipes

Steps:

• Briskly simmer jam and vinegar in small saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until glaze is reduced to about 1/2 cup.
• About 8 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature (glaze will thicken slightly as it cools).
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Cook bacon in batches, over med.
• heat until some of the fat is rendered but bacon is still translucent and pliable, 5-7 minutes.
• Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Cut and discard back bones from each hen with kitchen shears and then halve each hen length wise.
• Pat dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange cut sides down, in a large roasting pan.
• Wrap 2 slices around each half hen, tucking ends under.
• Brush liberally with glaze, reserving the remainder.
• Roast in the middle of the oven, brushing with pan juices and reserved glaze twice (every 10 minutes), until juices run clear when a thigh is pierced, 30-35 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425° F. Remove all visible fat and the neck and giblets from the Cornish hens. Rinse the hens under cold water and pat them dry inside and out with paper towels. Season the birds generously with salt and pepper, inside and out. Place one rosemary sprig, 2 sage leaves, and 1 bay leaf in the body cavity of each bird.
• Heat the oil in a heavy, flameproof roasting pan or very large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions, carrots, celery, porcini, and the remaining rosemary and sage leaves and cook, stirring, until the scallions are wilted, about 4 minutes. Smooth the vegetables into an even layer and nestle the prepared birds, breast side up, over them. Roast, basting frequently with enough of the chicken stock to keep the vegetables well moistened, until the vegetables and hens are golden brown-about 45 minutes.
• Carefully tilt the pan and spoon off enough of the roasting juices to measure 1 cup, not including fat. Stir the balsamic vinegar and honey into the measured juices until the honey is dissolved. Return the birds to oven and roast, basting occasionally with the honey mixture, until the birds are a rich mahogany color and the leg joint moves easily when you wiggle it, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the birds from the oven, transfer them to a platter or plates, and cover with a tent of aluminum foil to keep them warm. Strain the pan juices through a sieve into a small saucepan, pressing as much of the liquid from the vegetables as possible. Skim the fat from the surface of the sauce, and bring the sauce to a simmer while carving the birds. With a pair of kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbones to remove them. Cut the birds in half through the center breastbone. Cut each half into leg and breast portions. Arrange the pieces on a platter or plates, and spoon some of the roasting juices over them. Pass the remaining sauce separately.