Cherry-Glazed Cornish Hens With Sourdough-Cherry Stuffing

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried sweet cherries
• 3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed sourdough bread, toasted
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 cup cherry preserves
• 1/3 cup port or other sweet red wine
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 (1 1/4-pound) Cornish hens
• Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 475u0b0.
2. Melt butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup onion, carrot, celery, and poultry seasoning; cook 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Add broth and cherries. Bring to a simmer, and cook 2 minutes. Combine vegetable mixture, bread cubes, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Stir well to combine; cool completely.
3. Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, preserves, and next 6 ingredients (through garlic) in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer; cook 10 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
4. Remove and discard giblets and necks from hens. Rinse hens under cold water; pat dry. Remove skin; trim excess fat. Working with 1 hen at a time, loosely stuff each hen with about 3/4 cup bread mixture. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under hen. Repeat procedure with remaining hens and bread mixture; place hens, breast sides up, on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
5. Bake at 475u0b0 for 15 minutes; remove from oven. Brush hens with preserves mixture; reduce oven temperature to 400u0b0. Bake an additional 35 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into stuffing registers 165u0b0, basting every 10 minutes with preserves mixture. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Remove twine before serving.

butter, onion, carrot, celery, poultry seasoning, chicken broth, sweet cherries, bread, freshly ground black pepper, salt, cherry preserves, port, onion, lemon juice, thyme, ground ginger, garlic, cornish hens, cooking spray

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cherry-glazed-cornish-hens-with-sourdough-cherry-stuffing (may not work)