Tried a new method (for me) of opening/peeling chestnuts. Just cut them in half with a Chinese cleaver (and by cleaver, I mean an actual cleaver, not a Chinese slicing knife; a kau kong chopper in this case). Then the insides can be eaten with a spoon.

(Boiled chestnuts, but should work for steamed as well.)

"Timo" > wrote in message
...
> Tried a new method (for me) of opening/peeling chestnuts. Just cut them in
> half with a Chinese cleaver (and by cleaver, I mean an actual cleaver, not
> a Chinese slicing knife; a kau kong chopper in this case). Then the
> insides can be eaten with a spoon.
>
> (Boiled chestnuts, but should work for steamed as well.)

When you make them, are they slimy? The only ones I have ever had were
canned. They were on par with canned boiled peanuts which means...very,
very slimy. I have never seen any other form of chestnuts here and those
are only available at Christmas in one store that I know of.

On Mon, 2 Jun 2014 03:35:42 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
> "Timo" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Tried a new method (for me) of opening/peeling chestnuts. Just cut them in
> > half with a Chinese cleaver (and by cleaver, I mean an actual cleaver, not
> > a Chinese slicing knife; a kau kong chopper in this case). Then the
> > insides can be eaten with a spoon.
> >
> > (Boiled chestnuts, but should work for steamed as well.)
>
> When you make them, are they slimy? The only ones I have ever had were
> canned. They were on par with canned boiled peanuts which means...very,
> very slimy. I have never seen any other form of chestnuts here and those
> are only available at Christmas in one store that I know of.

I make an x at the pointy end with kitchen scissors and roast them in
the oven. Then they are peel and use. It's time consuming and not
worth the payoff, but that's what I do when I need roasted chestnuts.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

Timo wrote:
>
> Tried a new method (for me) of opening/peeling chestnuts. Just cut them in half with a Chinese cleaver (and by cleaver, I mean an actual cleaver, not a Chinese slicing knife; a kau kong chopper in this case). Then the insides can be eaten with a spoon.
>
> (Boiled chestnuts, but should work for steamed as well.)

Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?

G.

On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
> Timo wrote:
>
> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>
> G.

You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
chestnuts cannot be compared.

They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.

http://www.richardfisher.com

On Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:45:00 -0400, Gary > wrote:

> Timo wrote:
> >
> > Tried a new method (for me) of opening/peeling chestnuts. Just cut them in half with a Chinese cleaver (and by cleaver, I mean an actual cleaver, not a Chinese slicing knife; a kau kong chopper in this case). Then the insides can be eaten with a spoon.
> >
> > (Boiled chestnuts, but should work for steamed as well.)
>
> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>
Not really, they're kind of bland. I was disappointed the first time
I tasted one. I add them to turkey dressing sometimes and only to
satisfy somebody else's Thanksgiving comfort food request, other than
that - I don't have any use for them.


--

Good Food.
Good Friends.
Good Memories.

On 6/2/2014 3:50 PM, Helpful person wrote:
> On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
>> Timo wrote:
>>
>> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
>> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>>
>> G.
>
> You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
> them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
> hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
> chestnuts cannot be compared.
>
> They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.
>
> http://www.richardfisher.com
>
Did you know that Chinese grocery stores have shelled, parboiled
chestnuts in the freezer? They are pretty useful for chestnut stuffing
as well as in Chinese food.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

In article >,
says...

> I make an x at the pointy end with kitchen scissors and roast them in
> the oven. Then they are peel and use. It's time consuming and not
> worth the payoff, but that's what I do when I need roasted chestnuts.

I only do that when I want to eat them as hot roasted salted chestnuts
(supplies of fresh ones are a short season here).

But to use in cooking/recipes I buy the ready-shelled vacuum packed
ones.

Janet UK

On Monday, June 2, 2014 8:35:42 PM UTC+10, Julie Bove wrote:
>
> When you make them, are they slimy?

Boiled chestnuts are moist, but not slimy. Steamed ones, too. Baked/roasted are drier (and easier to peel, but still not fun).

On Tuesday, June 3, 2014 5:45:00 AM UTC+10, Gary wrote:
>
> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?

By about as much if you'd never eaten a potato. It's a mild-flavoured starchy thing. They're comfort food or nostalgia food for many, so a pathway to fond childhood memories.

Helpful person wrote:
>
> On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
> > Timo wrote:
> >
> > Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
> > before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
> >
> > G.
>
> You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
> them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
> hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
> chestnuts cannot be compared.
>
> They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.

Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."

G.

On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
> Helpful person wrote:
>>
>> On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
>>> Timo wrote:
>>>
>>> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
>>> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>>>
>>> G.
>>
>> You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
>> them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
>> hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
>> chestnuts cannot be compared.
>>
>> They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.
>
> Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>

You are absolutely right! It used to be a joy of an open fire at Xmas.
However chestnut stuffing for turkeys is a family favorite.


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
> Helpful person wrote:
>>
>> On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
>>> Timo wrote:
>>>
>>> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
>>> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>>>
>>> G.
>>
>> You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
>> them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
>> hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
>> chestnuts cannot be compared.
>>
>> They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.
>
> Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>
> G.
>
LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.

I've only had chestnuts once. When I was a teenager Mom bought some.
We cut an X on the bottom with a very sharp knife (I was told this is so
they wouldn't burst) and roasted them in the fireplace. We were not
impressed.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
>
> On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
> > Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."

> LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
> nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.

Oh, all right. Yes, that sounds better Jill. heheh Still, I've never
seen or eaten a chestnut.

On 6/5/2014 5:17 PM, Gary wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
>>> Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>
>> LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
>> nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.
>
> Oh, all right. Yes, that sounds better Jill. heheh Still, I've never
> seen or eaten a chestnut.
>
I couldn't tell you what prompted my mom to buy some when I was a
teenager. We roasted them in the fireplace. They're pretty bland.

Jill

On Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:47:18 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

> I couldn't tell you what prompted my mom to buy some when I was a
> teenager. We roasted them in the fireplace. They're pretty bland.

That was my conclusion after roasting them in the oven. Glad to hear
you did it the old fashioned way and came to the same conclusion.
Fondness for them must be based on good memories. I have similar fond
memories of (singing) "hot dogs roasted on a open fire"... and they
were red hot (hardwood) coals most of the time.


--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
>> > Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>
>> LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
>> nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.
>
> Oh, all right. Yes, that sounds better Jill. heheh Still, I've never
> seen or eaten a chestnut.

When I was a child, we used to visit the cinema and there would always be a
cart outside and we bought them hot in a cone

The carts had fires in them and the chestnuts cooked there. Ahh memories.
Wonderful on a cold evening)



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On Fri, 6 Jun 2014 12:00:10 +0100, "Ophelia"
> wrote:

>
>
>"Gary" > wrote in message ...
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>> On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
>>> > Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>>
>>> LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
>>> nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.
>>
>> Oh, all right. Yes, that sounds better Jill. heheh Still, I've never
>> seen or eaten a chestnut.
>
>When I was a child, we used to visit the cinema and there would always be a
>cart outside and we bought them hot in a cone
>
>The carts had fires in them and the chestnuts cooked there. Ahh memories.
>Wonderful on a cold evening)

Still done every winter on the streets of NYC... there are street
venders cooking every kind of food imaginable.
http://newyorkstreetfood.com/
http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/streetvendors
http://www.zagat.com/b/new-york-city...ods-60-seconds
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...ork/index.html

On 6/4/2014 4:08 PM, Gary wrote:
> Helpful person wrote:
>>
>> On Monday, June 2, 2014 3:45:00 PM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
>>> Timo wrote:
>>>
>>> Just saying (without any meaning), I've never eaten a chestnut
>>> before...and almost 61 now. Am I really missing out?
>>>
>>> G.
>>
>> You are missing out. For best results slit them and bake
>> them in the coals of a fire (or an oven). Peel while still
>> hot. The combination of scorched fingers and tasty
>> chestnuts cannot be compared.
>>
>> They are particularly good in turkey stuffing.
>
> Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>
> G.

Never had chestnuts, but I would love to try them. I have never seen
them sell chestnuts in our local stores.

Becca

Ema Nymton wrote:
>
>Never had chestnuts, but I would love to try them. I have never seen
>them sell chestnuts in our local stores.

There are several types, the best are from Italy. The typical
stupidarket chestnut is very inferior. And chestnuts should be kept
refrigerated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut
http://www.procaccibrothers.com/Prod..._Chestnuts.php

I've eaten a ton of nesslerode pie, you may want to try.
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/07/ga...lrode-pie.html
Try this... be warned, it's addictive, and you'll need to buy a new
wardrobe:
http://www.fourpoundsflour.com/the-h...nut-ice-cream/

On 6/6/2014 7:13 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Ema Nymton wrote:
>>
>> Never had chestnuts, but I would love to try them. I have never seen
>> them sell chestnuts in our local stores.
>
> There are several types, the best are from Italy. The typical
> stupidarket chestnut is very inferior. And chestnuts should be kept
> refrigerated.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut
> http://www.procaccibrothers.com/Prod..._Chestnuts.php
>
> I've eaten a ton of nesslerode pie, you may want to try.
> http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/07/ga...lrode-pie.html
> Try this... be warned, it's addictive, and you'll need to buy a new
> wardrobe:
> http://www.fourpoundsflour.com/the-h...nut-ice-cream/
>


Sounds wonderful, I am sure I would love it. Someone here, had a tag
line that said, something like, don't lead me into temptation, I can
find it, myself. :-)

Becca

On Friday, June 6, 2014 8:48:57 AM UTC-6, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Jun 2014 12:00:10 +0100, "Ophelia"
>
> > wrote:
>
>
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >"Gary" > wrote in message ...
>
> >> jmcquown wrote:
>
> >>>
>
> >>> On 6/4/2014 5:08 PM, Gary wrote:
>
> >>> > Old Christmas carol...."Roasting chestnuts on an open fire..."
>
> >>
>
> >>> LOL Got it backwards. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost
>
> >>> nipping at your nose..." Nat King Cole.
>
> >>
>
> >> Oh, all right. Yes, that sounds better Jill. heheh Still, I've never
>
> >> seen or eaten a chestnut.
>
> >
>
> >When I was a child, we used to visit the cinema and there would always be a
>
> >cart outside and we bought them hot in a cone
>
> >
>
> >The carts had fires in them and the chestnuts cooked there. Ahh memories.
>
> >Wonderful on a cold evening)
>
>
>
> Still done every winter on the streets of NYC... there are street
>
> venders cooking every kind of food imaginable.
>
> http://newyorkstreetfood.com/
>
> http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/streetvendors
>
> http://www.zagat.com/b/new-york-city...ods-60-seconds
>
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...ork/index.html

We go to Rome every winter, and I love the street vendor chestnuts served in a cone. My family always had them at Christmas time. I love them, but most people find them bland.

The trees are everywhere in the parks in Rome and the chestnuts are all over the ground. They were plentiful in the US at one time. In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees in North America.

DaleP

On Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:20:14 -0500, Ema Nymton >
wrote:

>On 6/6/2014 7:13 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> Ema Nymton wrote:
>>>
>>> Never had chestnuts, but I would love to try them. I have never seen
>>> them sell chestnuts in our local stores.
>>
>> There are several types, the best are from Italy. The typical
>> stupidarket chestnut is very inferior. And chestnuts should be kept
>> refrigerated.
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut
>> http://www.procaccibrothers.com/Prod..._Chestnuts.php
>>
>> I've eaten a ton of nesslerode pie, you may want to try.
>> http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/07/ga...lrode-pie.html
>> Try this... be warned, it's addictive, and you'll need to buy a new
>> wardrobe:
>> http://www.fourpoundsflour.com/the-h...nut-ice-cream/
>>
>
>
>Sounds wonderful, I am sure I would love it. Someone here, had a tag
>line that said, something like, don't lead me into temptation, I can
>find it, myself. :-)
>
>Becca

You'd love nesselrode pie... except you'd need to buy larger bras.

On 6/7/2014 5:40 PM, dalep wrote:

> We go to Rome every winter, and I love the street vendor chestnuts
> served in a cone. My family always had them at Christmas time. I
> love them, but most people find them bland.

I think they have a great flavor. Nothing like walking by a cart
selling them in Manhattan, I can't resist them.

> The trees are everywhere in the parks in Rome and the chestnuts are
> all over the ground. They were plentiful in the US at one time.

Someone in my neighborhood has several of them. The squirrels have
a field day running off with them to bury somewhere.

>In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees
>in North America.

Now we have different varieties grown in the US.

nancy

On 2014-06-07 5:57 PM, Nancy Young wrote:

> >In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees
> >in North America.
>
> Now we have different varieties grown in the US.
>
If I liked them there are lots of them around here. The horse chestnuts
were flowering last week. Some time in the fall there will be chestnuts
on the roads and the road allowance. You just have to get them before
the squirrels run away with them or the cars run them over.

In article >,
says...
>
> On 2014-06-07 5:57 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
>
> > >In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees
> > >in North America.
> >
> > Now we have different varieties grown in the US.
> >
> If I liked them there are lots of them around here. The horse chestnuts
> were flowering last week. Some time in the fall there will be chestnuts
> on the roads and the road allowance. You just have to get them before
> the squirrels run away with them or the cars run them over.

Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) with large flowers and a
lobed leaf are poisonous, they are not the European edible chestnuts
(Castanea sativa). Completely different nut.

American chestnuts are different again (Castanea dentata.

Janet UK

On Sun, 8 Jun 2014 00:10:08 +0100, Janet > wrote:

>In article >,
says...
>>
>> On 2014-06-07 5:57 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>> > >In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees
>> > >in North America.
>> >
>> > Now we have different varieties grown in the US.
>> >
>> If I liked them there are lots of them around here. The horse chestnuts
>> were flowering last week. Some time in the fall there will be chestnuts
>> on the roads and the road allowance. You just have to get them before
>> the squirrels run away with them or the cars run them over.
>
> Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) with large flowers and a
>lobed leaf are poisonous, they are not the European edible chestnuts
>(Castanea sativa). Completely different nut.
>
> American chestnuts are different again (Castanea dentata.
>
> Janet UK

Yes, horse chestnut is toxic, but oddly the deer like to chomp on the
lower branches. I planted one three years ago, for the showy pink
flowers:
http://i62.tinypic.com/16a5ix4.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/651t82.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_hippocastanum

On Sat, 07 Jun 2014 20:59:19 -0300, wrote:

>On Sat, 07 Jun 2014 19:56:08 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 8 Jun 2014 00:10:08 +0100, Janet > wrote:
>>
>>>In article >,
says...
>>>>
>>>> On 2014-06-07 5:57 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > >In the early 1900's the chestnut blight killed all of the trees
>>>> > >in North America.
>>>> >
>>>> > Now we have different varieties grown in the US.
>>>> >
>>>> If I liked them there are lots of them around here. The horse chestnuts
>>>> were flowering last week. Some time in the fall there will be chestnuts
>>>> on the roads and the road allowance. You just have to get them before
>>>> the squirrels run away with them or the cars run them over.
>>>
>>> Horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) with large flowers and a
>>>lobed leaf are poisonous, they are not the European edible chestnuts
>>>(Castanea sativa). Completely different nut.
>>>
>>> American chestnuts are different again (Castanea dentata.
>>>
>>> Janet UK
>>
>>Yes, horse chestnut is toxic, but oddly the deer like to chomp on the
>>lower branches. I planted one three years ago, for the showy pink
>>flowers:
>>http://i62.tinypic.com/16a5ix4.jpg
>>http://i62.tinypic.com/651t82.jpg
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_hippocastanum
>
>You better hope it doesn't get afflicted by the disease that is taking
>down chestnuts in NA.

I take the risk. I've planted many trees that are risky but most are
doing well.

Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> I take the risk. I've planted many trees that are risky but most are
> doing well.

Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
pretty trees.

G.

On 6/9/2014 12:00 PM, Gary wrote:
> Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>> I take the risk. I've planted many trees that are risky but most are
>> doing well.
>
> Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
> pretty trees.
>

I have had a red Japanese Maple for 30 years but last winter with late
frosts and snow seems to have killed it. Winter was hard on other plants
this year too; my 10 ft high rhododendrons are down to 3 ft but seem to
be quite alive.


--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 2014-06-09 12:08 PM, James Silverton wrote:

>> Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
>> pretty trees.
>>
>
> I have had a red Japanese Maple for 30 years but last winter with late
> frosts and snow seems to have killed it. Winter was hard on other plants
> this year too; my 10 ft high rhododendrons are down to 3 ft but seem to
> be quite alive.
>

I had one. My son had got it for me when we was working in a nursery. It
was doing nicely. We had a friend who needed a place to stay for a few
weeks and we needed a house sitter while we went to Europe for three
weeks. All he had to do was look after the dog and mow the lawn with my
lawn tractor. The idiot ran over the Japanese Maple.

On Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:00:31 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>> I take the risk. I've planted many trees that are risky but most are
>> doing well.
>
>Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
>pretty trees.

I thought of planting some (there are hundreds of varietals) but they
are very slow growing and most don't grow very tall so I'd need to
keep them fenced or they'd become deer food. My neighbor planted one
three years ago to replace an eastern redbud that died, but it's
fenced and will probably stay fenced:
http://i62.tinypic.com/9thonk.jpg
I would have chosen s different tree; I have a Crimson King Norway
maple that doesn't grow nearly as large as a full size kind.
http://i57.tinypic.com/30nkif7.jpg
Um, if you truly wanted some Japanese maples you could have them, they
make excellent bonsai plants.
http://www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/maple

On 6/9/2014 12:00 PM, Gary wrote:
> Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>> I take the risk. I've planted many trees that are risky but most are
>> doing well.
>
> Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
> pretty trees.

We put in a bloodgood maple this spring. It's a beautiful
tree.

nancy

James Silverton wrote:
>
> On 6/9/2014 12:00 PM, Gary wrote:
> > Do you have any Japanese Maple trees. Those are my favorite. Very
> > pretty trees.
> >
>
> I have had a red Japanese Maple for 30 years but last winter with late
> frosts and snow seems to have killed it.

I like the green leaf ones. I only had one left...it was only 2' high
and bushy. I planted it on my last ferret's grave back in the forest
in October. I hope it survived.

G.