Game

Cornish Hens with Bacon Stuffing

Cornwall, England

Serves: 8

8 Cornish hens, prepared
1L / 2pints ( 4 cups ) dry Red Wine
250ml / 8floz ( 1 cup ) Olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
90g / 3oz ( ¹/₃ cup ) fresh Sage, chopped
8 bacon slices, de-rinded chopped
90g / 3oz ( ¹/₃ cup ) fresh Chives, chopped
250ml / 8oz ( 1 cup ) dry Breadcrumbs
125g / 4oz ( ¹/₂ cup ) Pine nuts
kitchen string

Preheat oven to temperature 350^f / 180^c / Gas Mark 4

Place the Cornish hens in a bowl.
  Combine the next 4 ingredients in another bowl and pour over hens.  Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 3 hours, turning occasionally.
  Combine the next 4 ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
Remove the hens from the marinade, reserving 2 cups of marinade.
  Spoon the stuffing into hen the cavities and secure the legs with string.
Place hens on a wire rack in a large roasting pan and bake 1 hour, or until tender.
  Meanwhile, bring the reserved marinade to a boil in a pan. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until reduced
by one third.
  Serve the sauce with hens.