This Thanksgiving, forget the twenty-pound bird and pick up an under-two-pounder: the Cornish Game Hen, which is small and energy efficient.
Despite its name, the Cornish Game Hen is not a game bird, but a chicken. More specifically, it is a cross of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock breeds, and the USDA requires that each Game Hen weigh no more than two pounds when ready to cook.
Furthermore, producing chicken meat is more efficient than producing any other meat. According to a 1997 Cornell University study, "chicken meat production consumes energy in a 4:1 ratio to protein output.... Other ratios range from 13:1 for turkey meat and 14:1 for milk protein to 17:1 for pork and 26:1 for eggs." While turkey meat is far more efficient than beef and lamb (54:1 and 50:1 respectively), chicken meat stands out as the most efficient by a landslide.
Here are two delicious Game-Hen recipes from Bon Appetit magazine, courtesy of Epicurious:
Have a safe and happy holiday!
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