Name: Cornbread-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Corn Maque Choux
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter; 1 cup chopped onion; 1/2 cup chopped celery; 1 1/2 cups diced peeled cored Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples; 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage; 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 4 cups 1/2-inch cubes purchased cornbread or corn muffins (about 11 ounces); 1 large egg, beaten to blend; 1/2 cup (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 2 ounces); 6 tablespoons (about) fresh apple cider or fresh apple juice; 4 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-pound Cornish game hens, rinsed, patted dry; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage; 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 4 bacon slices, each halved crosswise; Corn Maque Choux

Cornbread-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Corn Maque ChouxHans Gissinger

Stuffing the game hens before roasting them keeps the meat incredibly moist. Classic American ingredients—apples, cornbread, and fresh corn—make this a great recipe for a small Thanksgiving. But you may not want to wait that long before you try it.