Cornish Game Hens, Firehouse Style

Tasty way to prepare game hens, easy to prepare, crusty skin, with a sweet and sour glaze. Hope you like it, I know my fellow Jakes do.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6  Cornish hens, 1-1/2 lbs each
•  salt & pepper (to season)
• 6  slices pancetta
• 2  large  vidalia onions, thickly chopped
• 1⁄4 cup  balsamic vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 1⁄4 cup hoisin sauce

Directions

1. allow cornish hens to come to room temperature.
2. remove backbone from hens, and butterfly them so they are lying flat.
3. salt and pepper hens on both sides to your liking.
4. have 2 bricks wrapped well in aluminum foil ready.
5. preheat oven to 450 degrees.
6. fry pancetta in heavy lg. frypan or cast iron skillet until crisp. remove bacon.
7. add 2 game hens at a time to skillet, skin side down, on medium heat, and top each hen with a brick. add a few chopped onions in pan for flavor, and cook for 5-6 minutes do this for every 2 hens you put in the skillet.
8. mix vinegar, honey & hoisin sauce on low heat in small saucepan.
9. when all game hens are removed from skillet, place in large aluminum pan(for easy cleanup) skin side up.
10. baste with glaze from small saucepan.
11. place hens in 450 degree oven for 15 mins., basting once with glaze.
12. take out of oven, let hens rest for 10 minutes.
13. SERVE AND ENJOY.