Serves: 6
Total Calories: 556

3 Cornish hens cut in half
Tarragon stuffing:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 shallots or scallions, minced
1 teaspoon tarragon dried, crushed
1/3 cup almonds chopped toasted
1 tablespoon parsley minced fresh
3 cups bread crumbs soft
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chicken broth (your own or canned)
1 egg lightly beaten
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups chicken broth (your own or canned)
Finishing sauce:
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened
1 tablespoon flour
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)

To make tarragon stuffing: Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine in skillet add shallots or scallions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add tarragon, almonds, parsley, bread crumbs and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mix well remove from heat. Add 2 tablespoons chicken broth to lightly beaten egg blend into hot mixture, stirring constantly. Oil shallow baking sheet large enough to hold hen halves place 6 mounds of stuffing several inches apart. Brush each hen half with melted butter or margarine and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place over mound of stuffing, pressing down a bit. Bake in a preheated 375° F oven for 45 minutes or until well-browned baste occasionally with 1 1/2 cups chicken broth mixed with remaining melted butter or margarine. When cooked, remove hens and stuffing with large spatula to serving dish.

For finishing sauce: Mix together butter or margarine with flour and set aside. Pour and scrape drippings from baking sheet into skillet add any remaining basting sauce and bring to boil. Slowly add flour mixture to skillet, whisking to keep smooth. Simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add optional brandy, stirring a minute. Serve over Cornish hen halves.

Note: You can have your butcher cut the birds in half, even though they are frozen.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 6
Total Calories: 556
Calories from Fat: 195

More Recipes from the Holiday Cookbook Cookbook:
Chicken In The Snow
Chicken Or Turkey Hash
Cornish Hens With Tarragon Stuffing
Cranberry Pork Chops
Flank Steak Strognoff
Fruited Florentine Pot Roast
Ham-Spinach Roll With Tarragon-Wine Sauce
Homemade Pork Sausage
Hot Fish Mousse With Sauce Dugléré
Mushroom And Sausage Pie
Mushroom Roll With Lemon Sauce
Mushroom Tart
Party Goulash
Pork Chops Veracruz
Roast Turkey
Sloppy Joes
Turkey Or Chicken Velouté