tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post3296707162117997626..comments2024-03-26T17:53:49.471+00:00Comments on Mark's Veg Plot: Free food! - ChestnutsMark Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-91238365975891630862015-11-13T17:44:55.755+00:002015-11-13T17:44:55.755+00:00I love them roasted which I usually do in my wok, ...I love them roasted which I usually do in my wok, stirring constantly. Or, my neighbours make a real fire in their on-the-garage-roof furnace and we enjoy roasting them. We have horse-chestnuts in parks and alleys. In Croatia, the chestnuts are very popular. We have chestnut forests and people go foraging. It is interesting that these two species belong to the different families, chestnut being related to the beech.<br />Vesna Marichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12265502263728106716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-83531307786588509232013-10-22T02:31:54.431+01:002013-10-22T02:31:54.431+01:00So, that is what that song is all about. Got it!So, that is what that song is all about. Got it!The Stay @ Home-Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06102175625149771801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-12648262748842146982013-10-21T21:17:54.453+01:002013-10-21T21:17:54.453+01:00Maybe it is subject to the exact kind of edible ch...Maybe it is subject to the exact kind of edible chestnuts (if there is such differentiation) - when I cut them, I make a deep cut and when they are done (boiled), the X-cut is left open (the inner and outer skin just bend outside from the chestnut), and it is easier to peel them (the water and the heat helps to separate the inner skin from the nut itself. However, it is true that usually 1/5 of chestnuts are difficult to peel - so maybe it relates to storage or planting conditions.. <br /><br />Good luck!Dominika Naskováqhttp://www.zahradavsrdci.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-16365897023969199442013-10-21T21:15:48.685+01:002013-10-21T21:15:48.685+01:00Wow! Wild chestnuts! What a treat! And now I kno...Wow! Wild chestnuts! What a treat! And now I know how to cook them should I come across a bounty of them, either in Texas or Michigan. Great post...can't wait to see what else you do with them.Dianehttp://www.mypuremichigan.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-65020253387528638352013-10-21T15:16:53.278+01:002013-10-21T15:16:53.278+01:00Argh...I just typed a long comment (yep it's m...Argh...I just typed a long comment (yep it's me and I just can't resist!) but it's just gone puff and disappeared.<br />Anyway basically I haven't found a chestnut tree yet but I'll keep looking because I adore them. <br />Inner skin always has to be removed in my book ;D<br />Great photos especially to show the differences between the chestnut and the conker! <br />Very clever and informative! Neesiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08629847485174945501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-62961058059131096372013-10-21T11:48:59.731+01:002013-10-21T11:48:59.731+01:00Thanks for highlighting the differences between th...Thanks for highlighting the differences between these and conkers! Because I have been confused about that too.<br /><br />What do the chestnuts taste like? Do they actually have a typically nutty flavour? I've never had one! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15188603527602084352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-79609374849653807232013-10-21T07:05:52.432+01:002013-10-21T07:05:52.432+01:00Dominika; Thanks for this, but can you please tell...Dominika; Thanks for this, but can you please tell me more about your method of removing the inner skins? I do peel the chestnuts when they are still hot, yet I find that the inner skin is difficult to remove. Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-15890916954078185542013-10-20T22:12:49.351+01:002013-10-20T22:12:49.351+01:00Lucky you, they look fabulous. I shall keep an ey...Lucky you, they look fabulous. I shall keep an eye out for sweet chestnut trees, although I can't think of anywhere I could find one off-hand. I do have more conkers than I can shake a stick at. Such a shame they're not edible.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-31712181091515799962013-10-20T21:28:16.611+01:002013-10-20T21:28:16.611+01:00We use to boil edible chestnuts with an X-cut in t...We use to boil edible chestnuts with an X-cut in the "tail" - if you boil them unless they are open and then you peel them, you should easily remove both skins; when the chestnuts are left to cool down, the inner skin sticks to the chestnut itself and it is hard to be removed...<br /><br />However, in the Czech Republic, it is not easy to find an edible chestnut tree; they are sold in supermarkets (fresh) and on Chrismas markets (roasted) - as in London.Dominika Naskováhttp://www.zahradavsrdci.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-83681304343918289222013-10-20T20:25:59.172+01:002013-10-20T20:25:59.172+01:00What a good idea to look for chestnuts. The last t...What a good idea to look for chestnuts. The last two photos are really fab, would make a nice painting subject for Egretta!Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263430746482725687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-7348686527653595002013-10-20T20:21:36.199+01:002013-10-20T20:21:36.199+01:00I've never noticed any sweet chestnut trees gr...I've never noticed any sweet chestnut trees growing wild near me which is a shame.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-81238211002024190182013-10-20T19:12:18.872+01:002013-10-20T19:12:18.872+01:00Egretta, in London in the Winter time you sometime...Egretta, in London in the Winter time you sometimes see stalls selling chestnuts roasted on a charcoal brazier. They are sold in little paper bags - very Dickensian!Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-56853366251440663202013-10-20T19:09:38.297+01:002013-10-20T19:09:38.297+01:00"Chestnuts roasting in an open fire" tr..."Chestnuts roasting in an open fire" tra,la,la! Makes me think of Christmas.Egretta Wells bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15410663977991054877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-23539637141142046972013-10-20T17:52:22.765+01:002013-10-20T17:52:22.765+01:00Thank you. Thank you. Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01944155516559194389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-67894002800982202832013-10-20T15:48:34.543+01:002013-10-20T15:48:34.543+01:00Yes I do. I open-freeze them on a baking tray, the...Yes I do. I open-freeze them on a baking tray, then bag them up. That way you can lift out as many as you need, whenever you need them.Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-35646020799263014802013-10-20T15:23:52.794+01:002013-10-20T15:23:52.794+01:00Do you freeze them?Do you freeze them?Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01944155516559194389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-68796892705853270772013-10-20T13:52:20.913+01:002013-10-20T13:52:20.913+01:00In my country we have kemiri (Aleurites moluccana)...In my country we have kemiri (Aleurites moluccana) or it is well known as Indian walnut, candle nut or candle berry. The nut is look like chestnut. It have quite hard husk, thin inner skin and its shape and color of the nuts are very similar. Both of them have a very similar taste and texture. Actually I have never seen the chestnut tree. Endah Murniyatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16175364514530314348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-3500742496386021672013-10-20T13:34:54.032+01:002013-10-20T13:34:54.032+01:00Interesting. I've had friends roast chestnuts ...Interesting. I've had friends roast chestnuts (with an x cut on the end), but I've never seen anyone boil them. And like Jo I'm glad you gave us the tutorial on which chestnut is which. I knew horse chestnuts weren't good to eat, but wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3840827850297141825.post-64589261547953522892013-10-20T12:09:02.985+01:002013-10-20T12:09:02.985+01:00What an informative post. I've only ever had c...What an informative post. I've only ever had chestnuts once and that was when I was a child. I seem to remember piercing them and then roasting them. I've often looked at them in the shops but didn't really know what to do with them, but I'm definitely going to buy some now, in fact, I shall be looking out for them on my walks. I was going to ask how you knew the difference between chestnuts and conkers, but you've already answered my question.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.com