Cornish Hens with Cherry Sauce (Crockpot) Recipe

Place rack in the bottom of a large slow cooker.

In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons of butter, red currant jelly, cherries, lemon juice, salt, and allspice. Stir over low heat until melted. Let cool.

In a large pot, saute onion and celery in 1/4 cup of the butter until soft and translucent. Add chicken broth, water, and additional 1/4 cup dried cherries. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add stuffing mix, tossing to combine. Let stuffing cool to room temperature.

Rub the skin of the birds with the browning sauce. (Promotes browning.) Stuff Cornish game hens and place on the rack in the crockpot.

Reserve 2/3 cup of cherries sauce and set aside. Brush remaining sauce over the skin of the stuffed Cornish game hens. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.

The Cornish game hens may be served whole or cut in half. Spoon reserved sauce over the poultry when you serve it.

Yield: 4 servings

Oven Method:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. Place a shallow rack in the bottom of the pan. Proceed as above, but bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until interior reaches 180 F. with an instant-read thermometer.

_{Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.}