The perfect roast for 2 from Orlando Murrin's cookbook Two's Company: Simple

Ingredients

• a little oil
• 25g butter
• 2 poussins/Cornish game hens
• 2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
• 1 tbsp flour
• 300ml chicken stock
• a good splash of brandy or Worcestershire sauce
• 1 carrot, or 1/2 sweet potato, peeled and cut into dice
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 125g basmati rice
• a pinch ground cinnamon
• a pinch saffron threads
• 1 tbsp any/all of these: fresh pomegranate seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, chopped organic dried apricots
• 2 tbsp flaked almonds and chopped pistachios, toasted
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• a knob butter
• crushed rock sugar, to finish (optional)