Honey-Glazed Cornish Game Hens

Start to finish: 1 hour 20 minutes (Active time: 30 minutes)

Makes 8 servings

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons rendered chicken fat (schmaltz) or extra-virgin olive oil, divided use ½ cup honey 2 teaspoons freshly ground

black pepper 2 medium yellow onions,

thinly sliced 8 Cornish game hens or 2 roasting chickens (about 4 pounds each)

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the chicken fat with the honey and pepper.

Remove the glaze from the heat and set aside.

Divide the onions among the bottom of two large baking dishes or roasting pans.

Rub the hens all over with the remaining chicken fat, then season all over with salt.

Place the hens on top of the onions (four in each pan; they should not be crowded), using roasting racks if desired.

Roast the hens until they are golden brown and just about cooked through, about 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and brush each hen with the reserved honey glaze.

Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees and bake the hens until they are deeply browned and the juices from the hens run clear, an additional 5 minutes.

Set aside to rest for 10 minutes before serving.