Monday, September 26, 2016

Recipe Try Out. Pelee Island. Books,

I posted a recipe on Friday for pork chops with couscous. I decided to try it out but without the couscous, I wasn't in the mood for it. However, I made it with the tomato, onion and caper sauce and because I ended up with too much liquid, I added some cornstarch to thicken it. It was delicious. We really enjoyed it. One of these days I will try it with couscous, but these days I don't eat a lot of starchy, high carb things so I have to plan when to eat them.I did cook up a few snow peas to go with it and Matt had a baked potato. It ended up looking somewhat like this picture. bright spark that I am I for got to take a photo of course. We drank a Pelee Island Baco Noir with it. Good. Pelee Island wines are made in Ontario although the winery itself is on Pelee Island. Went there a few years ago. Pelee Island is the southernmost tip of Ontario and was named because it is totally flat and looks like it's been peeled which is what Pelee means.We spent a weekend there and enjoyed ourselves although it only takes half an hour to get right round the island.

Also finished reading a book by Juliet Marillier, Dreamer's Pool. Excellent story and I have ordered the next one from the library. Juliet Marillier takes Irish legends and makes a different story of them. They always work and are always worth reading. This series is known as the Blackthorn and Grim series. Recommend them. Then, wondering what to read next, I received a very first draft of a story by Elizabeth Seckman. She wanted to know what I thought. What I thought was it would be a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. I do enjoy Liz's books and this is no exception. Her latest book Swept Away was a great story and this new one bodes fair to being another one.

I love Cornish Hens although I have rarely ever cooked them. I found this recipe which I didn't know I had in my cookbook programme and thought it sounded pretty good. Maybe I should pick some up this week.

Herb-Roasted Cornish Hens with Root Vegetables

2 1- to 1-1/2- pounds Cornish game hens
4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths
4 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch lengths
2 small turnips, peeled and cut into wedges
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
3 Tbs olive oil or cooking oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1/2 tsp salt

1. Skewer neck skin of hens to back; tie legs to tail. Twist wings under back. Place hens, breast up, on a rack in a large shallow roasting pan. Place carrots, parsnips, turnips, and onions around hens in pan. Combine oil, garlic, rosemary, oregano, and salt; brush onto hens and vegetables.

2. Roast, uncovered, in a 375°F oven for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until hens are no longer pink and the drumsticks move easily in their sockets.(Internal temperature should be 180°F with an instant-read thermometer.) During roasting, turn vegetables occasionally. Transfer hens from roasting pan to serving platter. Cover and keep warm. Remove rack from roasting pan. Stir vegetables. Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Continue roasting vegetables for 15 to 20 minutes more or until tender and browned.

3. To serve, using a slotted spoon, spoon vegetables around hens on platter. Makes 4 servings.

Servings: 4

Source: Better Homes and Gardens®.

Have a great day
 

20 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - Pork sounded good ... as too the chickens - it's that time of year for a good chicken stew ... cheers Hilary

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  2. Point Pelee. Haven't been there in ages. Great place to see the Monarch butterfly migration. Did not know wines were made there, but not surprised.

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    1. Never actually went to Point Pelee Denise but went straight onto the island which is where the grapes are grown. The main winery is on the mainland I think.They grow the grapes they use for Ice Wines on the island.

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  3. Thirty minutes around the island means it's not very big.

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    1. I may have exaggerated, could have been 35 minutes Alex!! No, it isn't very big.

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  4. I've read some of Juliet Marillier's books though not lately. I love cornish hens too but don't indulge too often as they're relatively expensive.

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    1. I really enjoy her adaptations of Irish legends Susan. Not too cheap round here either.

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  5. Love that you made this and shared photos. Love even more that you left out the ingredient that didn't work for you.

    Happy Monday.

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    1. I like couscous, but was just not in the mood for it Ivy.

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  6. I really love Cornish Hens and root vegetables, Jo! This looks delicious, thank you so much for sharing! :)

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    1. I certainly love Cornish Hens, never remember coming across them when I lived in the UK though.

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  7. I just took some boneless chops out for the crock pot tomorrow! But I like mine with a homemade mushroom gravy. :D I've never had couscous. Is it like tabouli and/or quinoa?

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    1. I make them with mushroom sauce too JoJo, but this was different and enjoyable. I guess it's a bit like quinoa. Only a bit though.

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  8. That author sounds interesting. I must chase her up. I'm an Irishophile. I love anything from Ireland.

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    1. Juliet Marillier is from your part of the world Pinky. NZ I think.

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  9. I've not been to Pelee Island yet but I heard how small it is. I do enjoy the wine like the Pinot Grigio and the Reisling. I'm not one for a Chardonnay.

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    1. ABC - Anything But Chardonnay!!! We enjoyed our weekend there Birgit. There is one very good restaurant, or there was. The pub where we stayed did good food too. It was right by the ferry dock. Of course the island virtually closes down for the winter.

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  10. I love Juliet Marillier's books, too. I've just read and reviewed on my blog 'Den of Wolves' which is the third book in the Blackthorn and Grim books. I really enjoyed it. This series feels grittier than some of her others because the protagonists are so damaged because but she's made their story into a very satisfying tale of growth.

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  11. My first experience with JM was The Sevenwaters Trilogy Helen. Great stories. I have the 2nd Blackthorn and Grim on order from the library right now. I do agree with your comments on the protagonists.

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