Christmas wouldn’t be the same (in this modern world of ours) without Christmas specials. I love finding the same classic movies on over and over again from Thanksgiving on. Nothing quite makes you smile like the distant hum of all the Whos down in Whoville or when Linus gives his Christmas monologue. That is the meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown.
So what do Christmas specials have to do with food? Not a whole lot. But, these Cornish hens reminded me of the humble dinner that Bob Cratchit served his family for Christmas. (Another Christmas classic my dad would always watch late at night after everyone was in bed and he stayed up making sure all the presents looked just so).
Game hens are the perfect portion for a small family/friends get together for the holidays and faster cooking than a turkey. The pomegranate-rice stuffing is an interesting take on traditional stuffing and really dressing thins up a bit.
Glazed Cornish Hens with Pomegranate-Rice Stuffing
From Food Network Magazine
Ingredients:
- 3/4 teas ground cinnamon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 Cornish hens (about 1 1/4 pounds each), rinsed and dried
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups wild rice blend (I used a box of Uncle Bill’s Wild Rice blend without the seasoning package).
- 6 tbs unsalted butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 teas ground ginger
- 3/4 teas ground cumin
- 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds, plus more for serving*
- 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, plus sprigs for serving
- 2 tbs chopped fresh cilantro, plus sprigs for serving
- 3 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
Preparation:
Mix the cinnamon, 4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl; sprinkle all over the hens and inside the cavities. Place the hens on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight.
Bring the chicken broth and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add the rice blend and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, ginger and cumin and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the cooked rice, pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley and cilantro; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Add the egg yolks and stir to combine.
Make the glaze: Bring the orange juice and pomegranate molasses to a boil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
Fill the cavity of each hen with about 1/2 cup of the rice mixture (reserve the rest); tie the legs together with twine. Roast 20 minutes, then brush with the pomegranate glaze. Continue roasting, glazing every 10 minutes, until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 170 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. (Rotate the hens halfway through cooking; if the skin gets too dark, cover loosely with foil.)
Spoon the reserved rice into a pie dish, sprinkle with water and cover with foil. After the hens have roasted about 20 minutes, transfer the rice to the oven and cook until heated through, about 45 minutes. Keep an eye it because it goes for browning to dark brown in a matter of moments as evident by my pics.
Transfer the hens to a platter and add some parsley and cilantro sprigs and pomegranate seeds.
*I got enough seeds from one pomegranate to use for the rice and to serve. To remove the seeds, cut the pomegranate in half over a paper towel and in a bowl of cool water, rub your thumbs over the seeds to extract them, as seen in this video.
Exciting News! Today I bring the cookies to Katrina’s Kitchen! Please go check out my Grasshopper Pie Cookies on her site. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be featured on Katrina’s site and how much fun it was coming up with this cookie recipe for her cookie exchange. I would love for you to go over and check out my recipe and all the other wonderful cookie recipes my foodie friends have been sharing all month on Katrina’s site.
And because I’m in a Christmas sort of mood – let’s have a giveaway!
Enter to win some holiday swag!
- 1 Holiday Apron from my Etsy store
- 1 copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day
- 1 Necklace, two charms and a cupcake ring from Tasty Peach Studios
How to Enter:
Leave a comment here telling me your favorite holiday special. If you don’t have one, you can just tell me the most awesome thing you think I’ve posted 
For additional entries leave me a comment telling me you have done any or all of the following:
- Following Pass the Sushi on Facebook
- Joining the Email Subscription
- Following Pass the Sushi on Twitter
- Tweeting about this giveaway “I just entered to win some spiffy holiday swag at @passthesushi”
- Subscribing to my RSS Feed
- Give this post a thumbs up with StumbleUpon!
Christmas day will always be just as long as we have we ~ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow.
Just started following you on Twitter.
I just tweeted about your giveaway.
I love the original grinch movie, an specifically the grinch song, which we watch over and over on youtube.
I subscribed to your RSS feed just yesterday, does that count?
Gorgeous hens! My fav holiday special is A Christmas Story.
I subscribe to your rss feed.
My favorite Christmas special that I whip out for the holidays is definitely my 7 layer cookies. They take a bit more time and work, but it is so worth it in the end. Definitely a show stopper for the holidays. My favorite thing you have made here are the maple bacon cupcakes. Such an underrated combination that I think everyone should have on Christmas morning
Loved the cookies at Katrina’s! The dinner looks amazing, and the giveaway is a great one! So many good things going on in one day!!
my favorite holiday special – Frosty the Snowman!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I like you on facebook
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It just dawned on my that the only Christmas special we have watched this year was a new Ice Age one. (It really didn’t measure up to the old classics.) The best ever holiday classic has to be Christmas Story—don’t shoot your eye out!
Happy Holidays!
Tweeted, followed, I think I’m subscribed, I stumbled, and I’ve rss’ed, *knead* an awesome bread book
What a great post! I love Linus’s monologue, too! I think it’s one of the all-time best Christmas moments!
Thank you for the amazing giveaway! I “like” your Facebook page
I am subscribed! WooHoo!
….and you know I follow you on Twitter!
Just liked you on FB; site looks great!
It’s so hard to choose, my mother-in-laws broccoli salad or my daughter’s breakfast or bread pudding!!
I like you on FB
I love Charlie Brown Christmas. We DVR’d it last week. So much fun to watch
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I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/iamahoneybee/status/149919013353431041
I follow you on twitter!
I love “Polar Express” and “Elf”…both great movies.
I already follow you on FB.
I subscribe via email.
I’m following you on Twitter.
I’m following via Google reader.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessFoodie/status/149980133120425984
My favorite holiday special? The Dr Who Christmas Special.
I’m following Pass the Sushi on Facebook
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My favorite holiday food is simple, garlic whipped potatoes that my mom makes. But just so you know I can’t stop thinking about your Blueberry Cheesecake Martini!
Already like you on facebook (Savour the Senses by Jenny Morris) =)
Already follow you on twitter =) @savourthesenses
Tweeted this giveaway
Already subscribed to your RSS feed =)
Stumbled this post too!
Even though I’ve seen it a thousand times, I still like to watch Elf every year
I follow you on Twitter
Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/shenning321/status/150595948865781761
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Thumbs up on Stumble
Oh girl, these are the sexiest hens I’ve ever seen! I’d almost feel dirty eating these babies – but trust me, I would enjoy every bite. Yeah… I’m a little loopy, but you’re still fabulous!