June and I have a busy weekend ahead of us. We’re going to be harvesting chestnuts!
We have two great big Chinese chestnut trees in our yard and although this year’s harvest appears lighter than in year’s past (what’s up with that?), there are still more than enough nuts to experiment with in the kitchen.
Chestnuts are relatively easy to harvest because they’re picked off the ground. As the nuts ripen, the burr — the razor sharp outer shell– opens up and the whole package falls to the ground, typically with a nut half sticking out of the spiky shell.
We’ve been gathering the nuts off and on for the past couple of weeks and stashing them in the refrigerator (raw chestnuts must be refrigerated because they lack the fat content of walnuts and pecans that protect them from degradation).
I’m not sure what to make with them. Chestnut pesto sounds nice. And maybe chestnut puree. These nuts are always associated with Christmas — “chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose” — which is not really accurate. By the time the holidays roll around, all the chestnuts are already off the trees. Chestnuts are really an October nut. My favorite way to eat them: Roasted with a bit of sea salt and paired with a nice glass of sherry. A perfect cool weather refreshment.
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We made roasted chestnut mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago and they were a huge hit. Basically, roast and peel the chestnuts are you normally would and then add a cup or so (based on taste and quantity of potatoes) to the raw potatoes and water and boil and prepare as you would regular mashed potatoes. They were divine. No precision necessary – just follow your taste buds!
Me, with all of my cousins and sister, decided to climb a chesnut tree once. Ofcourse, It was ripe with the spiked nuts, most had fallen to the ground. So, I attempted to climb the tree…fell out. Landing on the blanket of spikes at the base of the tree. Very uncomfortable and painful experience. To this day I hate all things chesnut! My only defense for the stupidity is that I was maybe 7yrs old at the time.
We have a chestnut tree but I’ve never done anything with the nuts. I may have to check to see if there are any tomorrow! My only complaint with that tree is the AWFUL stench that it gives off when it’s in bloom. OMG, it smells like rotting flesh. Blech!
Mmm, I’m so excited for chestnuts! Haven’t seen them around me yet, but I’m keeping a lookout. My favorite use for them thus far is this roasted chestnut and potato soup from Canelle et Vanille… so scumptious! http://www.cannellevanille.com/2011/12/winter-is-smell-of-roasted-chestnuts.html
Sounds delicious!