Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hens With Cornbread Stuffing

Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hens With Cornbread Stuffing. When I was single, I used to go for long drives in my pumpkin-orange, ’76 Chevette. I would drive until I got lost and then find my way back, making stops along the way to experience new stores and new restaurants. In losing myself, I would always find a new side of myself. A sexier, spicier version of me – one who had interesting stories to share. One who could find her way around because she was no longer apt to get lost.

Somehow, stepping out of the traditional makes life a little sexier. If you haven’t taken a different route to work for years, I prescribe for you the freedom to leave early and take the backroads. If you are in need of a vacation and cannot gather the funds to take one, sneak away for a movie at a theater you’ve never tried with a friend you haven’t seen in far too long. Go to a crazy musical. Visit the zoo. Do something… anything you’ve never done before that is wild and good for your soul. Do it today. Add a little sweetness and spicy to your life.

And then celebrate your break-thru to a sexier life by making this dinner for yourself and five other people with who you love hanging out.

Sweet and Spicy Cornish Game Hens With Cornbread Stuffing

This recipe makes dinner for six… perfect served with a gorgeous salad.

Stuffing

Makes 6 individual whole servings of game hen or 12 half servings of game hen.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

• 1 recipe Jalapeño Cornbread
• 6 Cornish game hens
• Salt 
• Pepper 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil + more for coating the game hens and the roasting pan
• 1 pound country sausage
• Salt & pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 5 leaves fresh sage, chopped
• 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 4 stems fresh oregano, chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
• 1 recipe of Sweet & Spicy Glaze

The day before:

Make the Jalapeño Cornbread and place a clean paper towel on top overnight.

The day of:

Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a hot pan over medium-high heat. Crumble and add the sausage to the pan. Season with some salt & pepper. Cook the sausage until it has browned on the outside then add the diced onion. Cook until the sausage is done and the onions are translucent.

Break the Jalapeño Cornbread into about 1-inch chunks and place it into a large bowl. Add the sausage & onion mixture, garlic, crushed red pepper, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar. herbs, broth, butter, celery, salt & pepper. Gently stir the stuffing until everything is mixed together.

Coat the game hens with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt & pepper inside and out.

Fill the game hens with the stuffing mixture.

Coat a large shallow roasting pan with olive oil or butter.

Coat the outside of game hens completely with the Sweet & Spicy Glaze and place them in the roasting pan with legs upward.  Save the remaining glaze to heat up and serve on the side. Tie the legs of the game hens together to help keep the stuffing inside. Place foil over game hens about halfway through baking time after they are golden brown so they don’t burn.

Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until game hens register on meat thermometer at 165°F in the thigh and in the middle of the stuffing.

If you decide to make less than six hens and, as a result, have leftover stuffing, just place it in a small baking dish that has been coated with butter and bake until it reaches at least 165°F.

Remove the game hens from the pan and plate them or place them on a large platter. Reduce any Sweet & Spicy Glaze by cooking over medium heat if needed to thicken. Salt & pepper to taste and serve on the side.

Sweet & Spicy Glaze

While enjoying your friends, be sure to pass on your sweet & spicy challenge to them for a sexier life. Be sure to come back and comment after you have successfully lost and found yourself, Sexy You.