Low Carb Recipe - Orange Stuff Cornish Hens

Orange Stuff Cornish Hens

2-1 ¼ to 1 ½ lbs. Cornish hens *note*
2 oranges
1 tablespoon Zest from 2 oranges
½ med. Onion
1 tablespoon mince garlic
1 Star Anise *note*
4 to 5 whole Allspice (depending on size) *note*
¼ tablespoon + a little to sprinkle on top- dried French Herb mix
(Rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, tarragon, lavender and spices) 2 tablespoons of soft butter
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Remove hens from package. If your hens have the giblets inside, remove and discard. Wash hens inside and out. Remove any little pieces of feathers that might be left on hens. Let drain and pat dry.

Place hens in roasting pan or baking dish. Large enough so the hens are not crowded. Salt and pepper inside the cavity. Zest the 2 oranges. Only zest ½ a tablespoon from each orange, you want to keep some skin on the orange for more flavor for inside the hens. Take your ½ cleaned onion and thinly slice it and than cut in halve. Each hen will get half of the onion. You can use both oranges if you want, but I only use one. Cut the orange in half and then quarter each half. You will use half an orange for each hen.

Give each quarter of orange a little squeeze as you place into a bowl. Add your ¼ tablespoon of herb, ½ tablespoon of garlic, sliced onions, allspice, ½ of the star anise and mix all together. That will be your stuffing for each hen. Now with stuffing your hen start with the 2nd largest piece of orange and stuff it all the way in the cavity, so you seal off where the neck was. Keep the largest piece of orange for last. Now place the rest of the stuffing in the hen, make sure you get all the juice.

Now place the large piece of orange in last to seal all the goodness in. Rub 1tablspoon of butter all over the outside of each hen. Sprinkle ½ tablespoon of zest all over each hen. Sprinkle salt and pepper and a little of herb mix over each hen. Place into your 400 degree oven and bake 45miutens to 1 hour, until the juices run clear and hens are golden brown. Hope you enjoy.
*Notes* The average is ½ a hen per. person unless you want left over or have some very hunger people to feed