The Thanksgiving Fairy Came a Few Days Early. . .

The Thanksgiving Fairy Came a Few Days Early. . .

So in my pursuit to become to the next Food Network, HGTV, TLC, Travel Channel, and Good Morning America star I go to many lengths.  This includes attempting a scrumptious holiday meal long before the holiday arrives! This year I will be heading home to the San Fernando Valley to spend Thanksgiving with my mom, my new nephew and my extended family (aka best friend ever).  Since my friend is hosting the occasion and has everything under wraps and under control I won't be cooking anything for this Thursday's upcoming feast.

But since my gastronomic pride won't let me go without celebrating this holiday by cooking I decided to make a pseudo-Thanksgiving feast tonight for me and my bf.  Since I am a fan of all things cute I have been dying to attempt Cornish Game Hens and tonight seemed the perfect excuse.  Using a recipe from allrecipes.com for Rosemary-Garlic Cornish Game Hens I was able to prepare a meal fit for kings, or hungry post-collegiate bourgeoisie.

Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes (gasp-- I know that's a lot of garlic, but damn good!) and a goat cheese with dried cranberries salad topped with balsamic vinaigrette this was one of my best meals yet.

Although it sounds very garlicky, I promise it's not.  The hens come out with the subtle but delicious flavor of rosemary, lemon, garlic and white wine.  When you eat them you don't think "garlic".  The potatoes hold a strong garlic aroma which is heavy and great paired with the light flavoring of the chicken and salad.   I served it with a Syrah, but don't quote me on whether that is the right wine pairing, I just really love Syrah.   Please enjoy the food porn below (for those shocked my the term, it's just really enjoyable food images- totally clean.)

Super easy salad, just a Baby Greens mix from Trader Joes, Dried Cranberries from Trader Joes and Goat Cheese Crumbles, also from Trader Joes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes, secret ingredient is Parmesan cheese. Yum!

So after you roast the hens in the oven, you take the white wine, broth, garlic, and rosemary that were in the pan and you saute them into a gravy. One word = amazing.

Set a nice patio table (or if you are lucky an indoor table) with some wine and candles. . .

Bring out the hens, potatoes and salad and serve. So enjoyable.