Honey Game Hens

This elegant dish is great for dinner parties, or when an ordinary roasted chicken seems dull. Kids especially like their own mini-chicken.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 Cornish game hens (about ¾ to 1 pound each)
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (1-inch) piece of ginger, peeled and chopped (ginger powder also serves as a suitable substitute)
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest, minced 

DIRECTIONS

Rinse hens, trim off excess fat, and pat dry. Place in large bowl or pan. Put garlic and ginger in food processor and process until nearly smooth. In another bowl, combine soy sauce, honey, oil, orange juice, and zest. Add the garlic and the ginger. Pour mixture over game hens, coating well. Refrigerate overnight, turning in marinade several times.

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place marinated game hens in shallow roasting pan; pour marinade on top. Bake for 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove hens to serving platter. Pour cooking juices into small, heavy saucepan and boil for 4 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Pour over hens just before serving. Serve with sesame noodles or rice pilaf. These hens can also be grilled. Remember to baste often.