For more-generous portions, cook one hen per person. If you do, use two roasting pans, and double the other ingredients.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　2 Cornish hens (about 1 3/4 pounds each), room temperature, rinsed well and patted dry

　　1 bunch fresh thyme (about 1/2 ounce), plus more for garnish

　　2 lemons, halved, plus wedges for serving

　　1/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

　　3 tablespoons unsalted butter

　　Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place hens in a roasting pan, breast sides up. Place 2 thyme sprigs and 1 lemon half in cavity of each hen. Loosen skin from breast, and place remaining thyme and the parsley underneath. Squeeze remaining lemon halves over hens. Rub butter all over hens. Season generously with salt and pepper.

　　

Step 2

Roast hens, rotating pan halfway through, until skin turns golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 180°F, 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut hens in half lengthwise. Garnish with thyme sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.

　　Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group.Buy the full book from Amazon.