Cornish Game Hen

[Albert Sailhorst]

I cooked this Civil War era recipe for Capon (Cornish Game hen) last Thursday before our Civil War reenactment in Orion, IL. I cooked 5 game hens and a Pard made Cheesy Potatoes and Wax beans. There were no leftovers among the five people eating!. I got the recipe from "A Poetical Cook-Book", 1864. Instead of an "earthen pan", I used my new cast iron fish/chicken fryer.

Take a quart of white wine, season the capon with salt, cloves, and whole pepper, a few shallots, and then put the capon in an earthen pan; you must take care it has not room to shake; it must be covered close, and done over a slow charcoal fire.

 

[donna]

Albert they look delicious. My Mom used to sometimes prepare Cornish hens for Thanksgiving instead of turkey. My family always enjoyed them.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Albert they look delicious. My Mom used to sometimes prepare Cornish hens for Thanksgiving instead of turkey. My family always enjoyed them.

Thanks!! I LOVE Game Hens!!....I think they are a food that is under-represented and under-utilized in the cooking community in general!

 

[donna]

I am bringing this thread back up. For Thanksgiving Cornish Game Hens would be a treat instead of turkey. My Mom would make them for Thanksgiving or at Holiday time. They were so delicious. She always served them with wild rice.

 

[nitrofd]

The pic looks great albert,it's been a long time since we have had them.

 

[Legion Para]

My Mother loved Cornish Game Hens and made them regularly with a simple wild rice, liver and onion stuffing.

 

[Blessmag]

Why are they called Cornish? Could have been Welch, or Dutch or or or

 

[Greyfalcon]

My mouth, literally started watering when I saw the picture of them looking so succulent. Nom, nom!

 

[donna]

Two sites on Cornish Hens:

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/cornish-hen.html

http://www.thecookinginn.com/tcirecipes/cornishhen.html