Pigeons or Squabs with Dates

• 2 inches fresh gingerroot, grated, or crushed in a garlic press to extract the juice
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 4 young Mediterranean pigeons, squabs, or small poussins
• 10 ounces dates, pitted (Tunisian or Californian dates)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds (optional)

1. Mix the ginger and garlic with the olive oil and half the lemon juice.
2. Add salt and pepper and 1 tablespoon honey and beat well.
3. Turn the birds in this marinade, and leave them in for 1/2 hour.
4. Arrange on a baking dish, breast side down, and roast in a preheated 425F oven for about 15 minutes.
5. Turn them over and roast for another 10 minutes, or until they are done to your taste.
6. Put the dates in a pan and only just cover with water.
7. Add cinnamon and the remaining honey and lemon and cook for 10 minutes, until the dates are soft and have absorbed the flavors.
8. Serve the dates in the center and the pigeons around, and sprinkle all over with sesame seeds, if you like.

fresh gingerroot, garlic, extravirgin olive oil, lemon, salt, honey, mediterranean pigeons, dates, ground cinnamon, sesame seeds

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pigeons-or-squabs-with-dates-373362 (may not work)