How to Cook a Fresh Hen

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By Launie Sorrels
eHow Contributing Writer

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Cook a Fresh Hen

Unknown to many, a Cornish game hen is actually just a chicken, not a wild game bird. The Cornish game hen, developed in the 1950s in California, is a hybrid of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock varieties of chicken. The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies the Cornish game hen as a game hen between 5 and 6 weeks of age that does not weigh more than 2 pounds ready-to-cook weight.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

3 whole Cornish game hens ½ medium chopped onion ½ green pepper, chopped Clove of garlic, minced 4 ounces chopped mushrooms ½ cup butter, melted 1 tsp. oregano Salt (as desired) Pepper (as desired)

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 2

Mix 1/3 of a cup of the melted butter with onion, green pepper, garlic, mushrooms and oregano.
Step 3

Season outside of game hen with as much salt and pepper as you desire.
Step 4

Stuff hens equally with ingredient mixture.
Step 5

Place hens into a baking dish, breast side up.
Step 6

Pour remaining melted butter over the birds.
Step 7

Cover the baking dish, place into the oven, and cook for 1 ½ hours.
Step 8

Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees for 10 minutes. This is not a necessary step, but is done to brown the hens.
Step 9

Remove Cornish game hens from oven and serve.