Pomegranate Honey Cornish Game Hens

I wanted to make a special dinner for my monthly YaYa evening. It was my turn to hostess our Christmas get together, and although it had to be postponed last month due to weather - I still wanted our evening to be special. So, I found this recipe from the internet. I adjusted it very slightly, and it really turned out great. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The recipe for the Mushroom Wild Rice is in the post below.


Ingredients:

1 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup honey plus 3 Tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 cloves garlic, smashed
3 game hens, split in half
Salt and pepper
Chopped, roasted pistachio nuts for garnish

Directions:


Mix pomegranate juice, 1/2 cup honey, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, and garlic. Pour over Cornish game hens.

Marinate, covered, overnight or at least 8 hours in the refrigerator, turning occasionally. Drain hens, reserving marinade.

Simmer marinade, covered for 10 minutes; reserve. Season hens with salt and pepper. Bake at 450 degrees F, basting frequently with reserved marinade, until hens are just firm to the touch, about 25 minutes.

Remove from oven; let rest covered with a tea towel for 5 minutes. Brush each half with 1/2 tablespoon honey. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios.

Yield: 6 servings