Clementine Infused Crock Pot Game Hens

I walked by an end in the meat department at the grocery store and saw a 2 pack of game hens.  I couldn't remember if I'd ever made them before.  I think I did way back when but for some reason just never got them again.  Until the other night.  I wanted a quick, easy way to prepare them that wouldn't require me to fuss over them so I turned to my crock pot.  I love them so much, I have four.  A one quart one, a 2 quart one for chili, a 4 quart (or is it 6?) stainless steel for cooking here and a 6 quart travel one that has a locking lid.  I chose the lid locker because I didn't want to listen to the lid bob around on top.

Quarter one small, sweet yellow onion and line the bottom of the pot with it.

Hello there little ladies...ready to get spruced up for the big party?

I felt bad but I had to violate the cavity with garlic cloves.  It was for the good of the dish, so I think I'm forgiven.

Run your fingers under the skin to loosen it up so you can add spices to it.

I did two different spices under each one since we were having one last night and the other tonight.  First I went with cumin to give a Mexican flavor for quesadillas tonight.

For the other, I went with Italian seasoning.  Rub under the breast from top to bottom so it's well flavored.

I added a little pepper to the top of the skin.  You can also add a wee bit of olive oil under the skin as well if you'd like to ensure a juicy result.

Cut a clementine into 4-6 pieces and add to the crockpot...

...like so.  Then cover it and place it on low if you're going to let it go all day at work or high if you're going to put it on around noon.  By dinner time it will be falling off the bone baby.

Hello sassy lady!

She's all dolled up with her buttery garlic cloves inside, perfumed with clementine and spiced up with the appropriate flavors.

I cut through this with a butter knife to serve it for the Mr and I...that's how tender it was.

I can't really give a good amount for nutritional information because each hen varies in weight.  We weighed her pre-cooking and then weighed what was leftover between skin, bones and whatnot and it was about 525 calories for 1/2 a hen.

They're perfect for soups, sandwiches with the onions from the bottom on top or quesadillas like we're having tonight!

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