Sunday, January 1, 2012

When There Are Only Two for Dinner

When there are only two of you for dinner...

And when appetites are non-existent in regards to tomorrow's leftovers...

One must think "small".

Today's culinary experience is this poor tiny creature. Small enough to sit in my hand. Not much larger than a baked potato.

It's been a long time since I cooked a Cornish game hen, but it seemed it would be much easier than roasting a turkey. Smaller, ya know. It was a simple procedure to rinse it in a stainless steel bowl instead of wrestling a turkey in the kitchen sink...a sink which must be cleaned properly before and after.

When I first unwrapped this little hen I almost had second thoughts. I mean, look at the size of this poor little fowl. Surely when it still proudly wore feathers it must have been the cutest little thing! And here it was, simply a carcass, and a tiny one at that, ready to be placed in the oven.

I grew up on the farm. I know how to catch a chicken, stretch its neck over the chopping block, chop off the head, dip the fowl in boiling water (loosens the feathers), pluck, singe the pin feathers, gut, cut, soak, dip, and fry.

But looking at this poor little critter I thought once again how once upon a time I enjoyed eating vegetarian. Those days are long past. And even if we decided to go back to being vegetarians, it's simply not possible. Hubby has renal failure and one of his dietary necessities is lots and lots of protein. Meat protein.

So little Miss Cornish Game Hen was stuffed with a piece of lemon and onion, glazed with a pineapple, butter and maple syrup, and roasted to perfection.

I can tell you it took much, much less time in the kitchen than any turkey you'll ever cook.

And twice as delicious. So next time you're cooking small? Try this simple dish. Recipes abound online, so find one you like and enjoy a treat.

.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Looks deelish!

Hope Dave is doing ok ...

May your New Year be filled with many blessings & Joys.
TTFN ~
Marydon

Diane said...

I love Cornish hen, though I split them and put them on a bed of mixed wild and long grain rice, along with chopped celery and mushrooms.

Now I'm hungry.

Can you either e-mail or post the recipe? You had me at maple syrup - love using to cook with.

Maryann said...

This would be the perfect size for us...maybe a little leftover for a sandwich? Looks delish!

Persis said...

I'll have to try that as we are a little household too. It does look delicious!

Servivorgirl said...

How delightful and sad and sweet that so much thought as to the life of our food, from whence it came.

A very peaceful post, grounded, and real. May God bless you and your husband fully in greater health, joy and love. You amaze me....sista.

Love,
Denise

Caroline said...

Looks yummy. I go back and forth between cooking a small meal for just the two of us or making something big - like a turkey - that we can live off of for a week.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

It is a poor little hen...hope it was Ok with taste

Sandy said...

I have always cooked cornish game hens. I love them! You can even cut them in half so they lie flat and grill them.

Beth L. Gainer said...

Yummy. I think it's amazing how the potato looks almost as delish as the game hen.

Debra said...

Wow! You make my mouth water....awwww-the poor little thing! But so tasty!!!!
God bless you real BIG this year, as you joyfully get out of bed!
Love ya!
Debra

Laurie M. said...

One year, when I was a child, my mom decided to do Cornish game hens for Christmas dinner. Seated around the table, looking at our plates, I must have made a sound, because suddenly all eyes were on me and my eyes were on the openings at either end of the little bird. I then tried to pull a little leg and it sprang back. Suddenly nobody at the table had an appetite any more.

To this day, I prefer my chicken already separated. I can't say why I don't feel the same about turkey. Perhaps because I'm not too fond of them in life.