Sauté onion
in margarine
until just
tender. Add
bread
crumbs, salt
and
freshly-ground
pepper.
Brown crumbs
lightly. Add
raisins and
nuts. Toss
together,
adding just
a little
water or
chicken
broth to
moisten.
This will
stuff two (1
pound)
birds.
Fasten neck
skin to back
with wooden
picks; twist
wing tops
onto back,
tie legs to
tail. Place
a piece of
heavy-duty
foil in a
shallow
roasting pan
and arrange
birds in
center.
Brush all
over with
melted
butter.
Roast in 425
degrees F
oven,
basting with
melted
butter, 1
tablespoon
dry white
wine and a
sprinkling
of herbs
several
times during
baking.
When
nicely
browned
(this will
take about
30 minutes),
close the
foil by
bringing
edges
together up
over the
birds or, if
several
birds are in
the pan,
cover with a
second piece
of foil. Do
not seal
airtight,
since game
hens do not
require much
cooking.
Continue
roasting at
the same
temperature
for 30 to 40
minutes for
individual
portion
birds and 50
minutes for
larger
birds. Look
at them once
during this
period and,
if juices
have cooked
away, pour
on a little
more melted
butter and
wine. Birds
are done
when legs
move easily.
Remove
trussing
strings and
serve with
sauce.
Sauce
Pour juices
in the foil
into a
saucepan.
Add a little
more wine, a
spoonful of
currant
jelly, salt
and pepper.
Simmer for 5
minutes.