Crispy Fried Cornish Game Hens (Tapaka)

This is one of my favorite ways of having Cornish Game Hens. Georgians (Russian, NOT USA) have a special flair for cooking chicken. They grill or roast them (with delicately spiced walnut sauces); they fry them under a press; and they stew them with a sauce of herbs, tomatoes, and lemon juice. All of these methods make the serving of chicken in Russia memoriable. The name tapaka comes from the heavy iron skillet (tapa) with its weighted lid, under which the marinated chicken is flattened and then fried. This forms a crisp, golden crust. This recipe makes one serving so increase the ingredients to accomodate as many guests as you may have.