Friday Night Dinner Recipe Thread

[DiamanteBlu]

I thought that it might be nice to have some threads dedicated to recipes and categorized in such a way as to allow people to find things. I happen to be cooking something this evening which has been very good as a main course so I figured I''d start. I''m thinking that we might want to have a dessert thread and an appetizer thread - maybe even a side dish thread. What do you think?

 

[DiamanteBlu]

Cornish Game Hens with Cherry Sauce [serve with boiled, buttered, parsleyed mini red potatoes and peas or veggies of your choice]

1 game hen per 2 people [can cook more - they reheat really well]
- cook hen according to weight [about 1.25 - 1.5 hours]
- you can salt and pepper them and rub them with butter or olive oil if you like but I don''t bother

Cherry Sauce [this is an Italian style recipe - "some" is a technical term and meand "to taste"] - good for at least 2 hens [depending on how heavy handed you are!]
- some dry red wine [something that is ok to drink] - about 1 cup
- some kirsch or brandy - about 1/4 cup
- some rosemary - about 2 TBS broken up
- some sugar - maybe 1/2 cup
- some Dijon mustard - 2 or so TBS
- some raspberry [or other fruit] vinegar] - 2ish TBSP
- some cherries - about 6 to 8 oz. [frozen, fresh or jarred]
- pan drippings - as much as you want to use

put all ingredients in a sauce pan [except the drippings] and simmer for maybe half an hour or so [it should thicken a bit - like heavy cream texture]
mash the cherries with a potato masher or similar tool
when hens are done, put drippings into cherry sauce
simmer for a minute or too
if sauce gets too thick, I dilute it with more red wine

when the hens are done take them out and cut them in half - serve half to each person with the sauce, potatoes and veggies on the side

note: This is also a great sauce with roasted pork loin. I think the sauce would also be great with turkey if you add a bunch of cranberries to the sauce.