Halfling Game Birds

D&D 2024 recipe: Halfling Game Birds. Source: Heroes' Feast Flavors of the Multiverse. recipe type Lost in Realmspace, serves 4, diet Vegan Ingredients Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme 2 Cornish game hens (about 2 pounds each) Olive oil spray Instructions Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 1½ tablespoons salt, 1½ teaspoons pepper, the lemon zest, rosemary, and thyme; stir to incorporate; and set aside. On a work surface, using kitchen or poultry shears, cut through both sides of, and remove, a Cornish hen's backbone. Repeat with the second hen. Working one at a time, turn the hens so they're breast-side up and then flatten with one of your hands. Using a chef's knife, cut through the breastbone to halve each hen. Pat the hens dry with paper towels and then, working with one half hen at a time, gently shimmy a finger between the skin and the meat, loosening but not detaching the skin. Rub about one-fourth of the seasoning mixture under the skin of each half, then sprinkle about ½ teaspoon salt all over the skin of each half. Tuck the wing tips behind the breasts and arrange the halves skin-side up on the prepared rack. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. With racks in the upper-middle and lower-middle positions, place a second rimmed baking sheet on the lower rack, and preheat the oven to 500°F. When the oven is ready, remove the hens from the refrigerator. Coat the skins with olive oil spray and sprinkle each hen half with about ¼ teaspoon pepper. Carefully arrange the hens, skin-side down, on the preheated baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the hens from the oven and preheat the broiler. Flip the hens skin-side up, set the baking sheet on the upper rack, and broil the hens until well browned and an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F when inserted into the thick...