Cornish hens are a british chicken breed that's smaller in size than a regular chicken, usually under two pounds; these birds are sought after by chefs and experienced cooks because of their delicious flavor and texture, but also because of how elegant they look on a plate as their smaller size makes each bird a great one-person serving. This simple recipe comes courtesy of chef john ash from fetzer vineyards. Herbs, spices, garlic, shallots, and mustard make these rock cornish game hens very special and festive. Independent of the bird size, the safe temperature for the consumption of its cooked meat is still 165 f at the thickest part of the animal, away from fat or bone, so keep in mind that even though the size might call for a shorter cooking time, the inside temperature has to be the same as in a bigger bird.