Pineapple-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

This recipe came from Hawaii and was recently published in the Taste Of Home magazine. It has a pineapple-coconut stuffing. It is golden brown and wonderfully moist with a sweet sauce. Prep & cook times are approximate.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2 (20 ounce)  Cornish hens
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple
• 3  cups  cubed day-old  bread, 1/2 inch cubes, crusts removed
• 1  celery rib, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup flaked coconut
• 2⁄3 cup butter, melted divided
• 1⁄4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 2  tablespoons  steak sauce
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 2  tablespoons brown sugar
• 1  cup water
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

1. Sprinkle insides of hens with 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
2. Drain pineapple, reserving juice.
3. In a bowl, combine the pineapple, bread cubes, celery and coconut.
4. Add 6 Tablespoons butter; toss to coat.
5. Loosely stuff hens; tie legs together with kitchen string.
6. Place on a rack in a greased shallow roasting pan.
7. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 1-1/2 cup baking dish; cover and set aside.
8. Add poultry seasoning and remaining salt to remaining butter.
9. Spoon some of the butter mixture over hens.
10. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, basting twice with butter mixture.
11. Stir steak sauce and reserved pineapple juice into remaining butter mixture; baste hens.
12. Bake reserved stuffing with hens for 30 minutes; baste hens twice.
13. Uncover stuffing; baste hens with remaining butter mixture.
14. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until meat themometer reads 185 degrees for hens and 165 degrees for stuffing in hens.
15. Remove hens from pan; keep warm.
16. Pour drippings into a saucepan; skim fat.
17. Combine cornstarch, brown sugar, water and lemon juice until smooth; add to the drippings.
18. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
19. Serve sauce with hens and stuffing.