Cornish Game Hens Stuffed With Apricots & Prunes

Here is a fairly easy, fast, elegant pressure cooker recipe to serve any time of year. Depending upon your appetite and number of accompaniments, two stuffed hens will serve either 2 or 4 people.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon  oil
• 2  Cornish hens, about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb each
• 12  pitted prunes
• 8  dried apricots
• 1⁄2 small lemon, cut into 6 thin slices
• 1⁄4 cup shallots or 1⁄4 cup onion, finely minced
• 2  stalks celery, finely minced
• 1  tablespoon fresh ginger, finely minced
• 1  cup  chicken stock or 1  cup chicken bouillon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, to taste (less if using canned stock or bouillon)
• 1 1⁄2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and halved (about 4)
• 1  tablespoon  grated orange zest
• 1⁄4 cup Grand Marnier

Directions

1. Heat the oil in the pressure cooker.
2. Brown the hens well on both sides.
3. Stuff each hen with 6 prunes and 4 apricots, interspersing the lemon slices among the dried fruits.
4. Truss the hens and set aside.
5. In the fat remaining in the cooker, saute the shallots, celery and ginger for 2 minutes.
6. Stir in the stock and salt; scrape up any browned bits that are sticking to the bottom of the pan.
7. Place the hens side by side in the sauce.
8. (You may need to put one hen on its side) Place the sweet potatoes on top Lock the lid in place and over high heat bring to high pressure.
9. Adjust the heat to maintain high pressure and cook for 10 minutes.
10. Quick release the pressure and check for doness by inserting a knife into the drumstick joint; if the meat is still pink, lock the lide back in place and return to high pressure, and cook for another minute or two.
11. Transfer the hens to a platter; remove the trussing.
12. Reserve in a warm place.
13. Add the orange zest and Grand Marnier and boil the sauce over high heat until the alcohol burns off and the sauce is reduced slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
14. Serve in a sauce boat, or pour over the stuffed hens.