One of America's Favorites - Cornish Game Hen

A Cornish game hen ready for the oven.

In the United States, a Cornish game hen, also sometimes called a Cornish hen, poussin, Rock Cornish hen, or simply Rock Cornish, is a hybrid chicken sold whole. Despite the name, it is not a game bird. Rather, it is a broiler chicken, the most common strain of commercially raised meat chickens. Though the bird is called a "hen", it can be either male or female. A cornish hen typically commands a higher price per pound than typically sold chickens, despite a shorter growing span of 28 to 30 days, as opposed to 42 or more for regular chicken.
The Rock Cornish game hen or Rock Cornish hen is a cross between the Cornish Game and Plymouth or White Rock chicken breeds. This breed develops a large breast over a short period of time compared to game hens. Rock Cornish game hens weigh about 2.5 pounds after four to six weeks, at which time they are slaughtered.








The United States Department of Agriculture describes the Rock Cornish game hen or Cornish game hen as "a young immature chicken (less than five weeks of age), weighing not more than two pounds ready-to-cook weight, which was prepared from a Cornish chicken or the progeny of a Cornish chicken crossed with another breed of chicken."

A roasted Cornish Game Hen

Most sources credit Alphonsine "Therese" and Jacques Makowsky of Connecticut for developing the small bird in the mid-1950s. A Saturday Evening Post article from July 1955 credited Mrs. Makowsky with coming up with the idea to breed the Cornish game chicken, a small bird with short legs and a plump, round breast that she had discovered in a book. The Makowskys began cross-breeding the Cornish game cocks with various chickens and game birds, including a White Plymouth Rock Hen and a Malayan fighting cock, to develop the Rock Cornish game hen, a succulent bird suitable for a single serving.
The musician and comedian Victor Borge was both an investor and promoter of the Rock Cornish Game Hen in its early years. His personal popularity helped change the bird from an exotic menu item into something a housewife might prepare herself.









Baked Cornish Game Hens


INGREDIENTS:

2 Cornish Game Hens
1/2 cup melted Butter, (Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter)
1/2 Onion, chopped
1/2 stalk Celery, chopped
1/4 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can Mushrooms, drained
and chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Dried Basil
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Parsley
1/4 cup melted Butter, (Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter)



DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl combine the 1/2 cup melted butter, onion, celery, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley.
3. Season hens inside and out with salt and pepper to taste, then stuff with equal amounts butter/vegetable mixture. Place stuffed birds in a 9x13 inch baking dish, breast side up. Drizzle with 1/4 cup melted butter.
4. Cover dish and bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove cover and brown at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).