This morning I was so excited to open Laquet's blog and see I could post a comment! I thought, problem fixed, as I actually posted. But her next blog entry had me blocked from commenting. Rats! Same with Donna at My Tasty Treasures.
Before I start in on that rant, or my friend's visit, here is another one to check off my Nigella Express list.
Nigella's Cornish Hens and Sweet Potato Chunks
Don't they look like pathetic little birds laying about, all white and tiny and looking like they have no promise at all. Well, they may have had promise....but that ship sailed before the birds made it to the table.
The cinnamon and cumin are essential for the potatoes.
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The potatoes were saturated in spices and olive oil.
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If you have the book please look at the photo of the finished product. It looks world's better than mine. Now, I followed the directions but it did not look as appealing. Whether her recipe tasted better, I do not know.
Doug and I thought the hens came out a bit bland...like they needed salt or something. They needed taste. The sweet potatoes were fabulous and the combo of cumin and cinnamon works well. Maybe I ought to have rubbed that all over the little hens.
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Alas, they gave their lives for a bland dinner, not to be remembered after this post.
Nigella Express, Everyday Easy section, page 20.
The cumin and cinnamon on the sweet potatoes sounds good, however nobody else in my house likes sweet potatoes!
ReplyDeleteJanel, I love sweet potatoes. Too bad no one at your place likes them but maybe you could cook some for yourself when you do mashed taters for the others?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never had a Cornish game hen before. I've always wanted to try one, but I guess I feel they're really finicky to eat because you have to navigate around so much bone. They also are not cheap!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I can see your pictures today. I'm sure it is short lived but I'm enjoying catching up on what I feel I've missed by just reading the text. Those potatoes do look yummy!
ReplyDeleteI always imagined you living in Rhode Island with the estates that were named. I've always wanted to live in a named house. Squirrel Head Manor sounds so majestic. I need to think of a name for my manor to have it sound majestic. Something simple like Tara but not so cliche.
ReplyDeleteYay! Recipe for cornish hens!! I love to roast these once in a while, I am, so glad to have a new way to do it!! Thanks.. and the sweet potatoes sound terrific!
ReplyDeleteJoie,
ReplyDeleteThis place isn't nearly so grand as all of that! Ours is but a simple rustic farmhouse style home on 7.5 acres of land. The name came from some of the, uh, gifts that the family cat left on the front porch!
I think that everyone should name their home though. We saw a lot of that when we visited England about 10 years ago.
I love the combo of cumin and cinnamon. I have only cooked Cornish game hens once or twice but they are good. I like your idea of putting the spices on them too.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what "Cornish Hens" are but I can imagine that the coriander/cumin was probably delicious on the sweet potato and would have been good on chicken - if that is what the hens were?!?
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to spend time with a good friend like Mary Margaret but how scary for her that she can't fly home because of a volcano - mind you that's also a cracking "sorry I can't get to work but ..." excuse!!!!
WC - The hens were $3.50 each but there was a great sale whe they were 99 cents each. I should have stocked up on them then!
ReplyDeleteBrancho - See you Wednesday...at work :-(
Donna - I have been reading your hilarious blog. Love the sausage and cherry tomato! Ignore the mean lady.
Deb - I really wish I'd rubbed the birds with the spices. But they made very good broth.
Laquet - The hens are bigger than quail, but not by much. I have photos of our visit. What are the chances that volcano would blow while she's away. Funny!
Well, thank goodness I bookmarked this one. I have plenty of potatoes, carrots and celery left over from my stew from today, I will use the extra for this dish tomorrow evening.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I remember about Cornish Hens (seeing it's been a long time since I've had them) is they can dry out rather quickly.
How long and at what temp did you cook them?
Hi Tina!
ReplyDeleteI decided to do the Hens in a crockpot on this round. The next time I make the dish, I'll do it in the oven.
I have to figure out something to add to the taste... for me they have a specific flavor that I need to compliment.
Anyway, thanks for the comment and stop on by any time!