Chocolate-It's What's for Dinner

Cornish Game Hens are a nice change from chicken. They really don't have a huge difference in taste.  Probably if you put them both in front of me and I blind taste tested, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference?? They do make a nice presentation though. Maple-Apple Jack Cornish Hens Adapted from Fine Cooking ) 2/3 c apple juice (or apple cider) 1 1/2 t molasses 1 1/2 T maple syrup 2 T AppleJack or Calvados 1/4 t nutmeg 1/4 t allspice 1 T butter 2 Cornish Hens, cut in half Add ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer until reduced by half 3-5 minutes. Dry hens with paper towels. Place Cornish hens in a roasting pan. Bake in a 425 oven for 45 minutes (or until they reach the temperature of 180) basting with sauce every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes. Serve I like cutting the hens in half. They cook evenly and they just make serving easier. Most people are not going to eat a whole hen. It's easier to just cut t...

The NY Times Magazine section did a piece on cocktails about two weeks ago and one was calling me- Rhum Agricole Daiquiri . What attracted me here (well besides the cocktail aspect) was the Burnt Cinnamon Simple Syrup. It was easy enough to make, as are most simple syrups, but it was the potential uses.  I started thinking not only daiquiris but why not with Applejack? Apples, burnt cinnamon sounds like a winner to me. Or how about a nice hot cider, with a little rum, and the simple syrup (Guess I'll have to wait until the fall for the cider). On the non-alcohol side-why not use it to moisten a sponge cake - wouldn't that give it an interesting flavor? Or what about a burnt cinnamon ice cream? Now first for the burning of the cinnamon - it felt a little like I was doing a cleanse to ward off evil spirits. I think that is usually done with sage but if cinnamon works too - so be it. The recipe recommended using a small creme brulee torch to burn the cinnamon sticks - like you d...