Thursday, December 04, 2008

How to Roast Chestnuts if you don't know

I had my first chestnuts in Germany while I was there and since I have had them at Brenda's house in Texas and at my house. Yum.
Buy chestnuts at your local store. Smell each of them and if they smell moldy, don't buy them. I buy the heavy ones that are kind of big in the batch. Then take a sharp (really) knife and on the top of the chestnut cut an X. If you don't they will explode. How do I know this? Never mind.
Anyway, once you cut the X in each chestnut, then put them on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. If your oven runs hot then do 375.
Then take them out and take an OLD towel and put them in the towel and kind of tap the bunch with a rolling pin. Then open up the towel and take one and peel off the outside and put a little salt on the chestnut (or not) and start eating. Once you begin eating them, they grow on you.
They are best warm with a nice glass of wine or anything you prefer to drink while noshing.
I hope you learn to enjoy this once a year treat.

1 comment:

Carol said...

Thank you Mary Lou!
I still haven't done anything with these chestnuts I bought at the farmer's market. I've been enjoying how beautiful they are sitting in a bowl on the kitchen counter. I'll try this and I am sure they will taste every bit as good as they look!