alternative to turkey

I made this for a little dinner party we had last weekend.  It was easy and impressive.  everyone likes to have their own little hen.  there's something a little decadent about it.  They'd also make a great alternative to turkey if you were just having you and your honey.

Roasted Cornish Hens with Grapes

from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living

(one of my favorite cook books)

• Ingredients
• 1 1/2 lbs. red and green seedless grapes
• 8 shallots, root end intact, halved if large
• 6 sprigs of thyme, plus more leaves for hens
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 4 (1 – 1 1/4 lb.) Cornish game hens*

*Substitution: Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts – 10-12 oz. each

Process

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees (F).

2. Toss together grapes, shallots and thyme sprigs with olive oil, 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Spread on a large rimmed baking sheet.

3. Rinse the hens and pat dry, then tie the legs together with twine. (I just use thread from my sewing kit!)

4. Nestle hens among the grapes on the baking sheet, breast side up. Season with salt, pepper and thyme leaves.

5. Roast, basting the hens occasionally with pan juices, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the leg reads 160 degrees (F), about 30-35 minutes.

Serves 4

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