ROASTED GAME HENS WITH SESAME SAUCE

l/2 cup soy sauce
l/4 cup dijon mustard
l/4 packed dark brown sugar
2 tbsps. finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 tbsps. oriental sesame oil
3 cornish game hens cut in half lengthwise, backbones removed
sesame seeds
Whisk first 5 ingredients in med bowl. Transfer half of marinade to small sauce pan. reserve. Pour remaining marinade into glass baking dish. Add hens; turn to coat. Marinate 30 mins at room temp or up to 4 hrs in refrigerator turning occasionally., Heat oven 425. Arrange hens, skin side up on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Roast until cooked thru and brown, about 40 mins. Transfer to platter. Pour pan juices into saucepan with reserved marinade. Bring to boil stirring often. Simmer until sauce coats spoon about 5 mins.; pour into bowl. Serve hens with sauce. (Dont add too much marinade to cooking sheet b ecause it will almost burn – you just need the juices from the hens themselves to add to reserved marinade). These werre delicious. I cooked 2 hens with the above amt. of sauce and it was OK)
Bon Appetit Jan. 2003