Deep-fried Cornish Game Hens

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 2 (3/4 lb) cornish hens
• to taste vegetable shortening (for deep-frying)
• to taste oil (for deep-frying)
• to taste salt
• to taste pepper, freshly ground
• to taste lemon, wedges (for serving)

Recipe

• 1 don't fill your stockpot more than half full with shortening/oil, to allow for the inevitable boiling up when the hens are added.
• 2 also, be sure the hens are at room temperature so the fat temperature doesn't drop dramatically from the shock of an ice-cold bird.
• 3 rinse the hens and pat completely dry, inside and out, with paper towels. let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
• 4 preheat the oven to 200 degrees f. place a large wire cake rack over a jelly roll pan/cookie sheet.
• 5 in a stockpot, melt vegetable shortening over high heat to a depth of 2 to 3 inches and heat it to 375 degrees f.
• 6 carefully put 1 cornish hen in the hot shortening. deep fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown.