Sunday, December 27, 2009

Roasted Chestnuts!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose...



So there is no open fire here, just an oven and a roasting pan. Jack Frost, well he was here last week. This week it's more like Missy Melted, as there is hardly a trace of the Blizzard that Jack Frost sent last week to the Long Island area! Jack is no longer nipping at my nose, I think it's actually sunny and pretty warm for a late December day.


This is what the weather is like today...



The exact same spot last week, same time of day!



                                                    
 What a difference a week makes!



 Here's what's left...
                                                              


That's all! and a puddle at the end of the driveway!

Joining Mary at the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday! Stop by her blog and check out all the Mosaics that have participated!



Roasted Chestnuts
Printable Recipe

Choose chestnuts that are smooth, shiny and heavy. Soft ones are rotten. Always score your chestnuts before cooking. Roasting time can vary depending on the chestnuts. Chestnuts are harder to peel once they have cooled completely. Boiling the chestnuts before roasting, softens the shells, and the chestnuts roast in only 12-18 minutes. If you're boiling them first, make the x's in your chestnuts before you boil them.

Be really careful when you score them!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Use a sharp paring knife or a serrated knife to cut an X into one side of each chestnut, be really careful doing this. They can be slippery. Boil the chestnuts in water for about 10 -15 minutes (optional, but I always do it this way to soften them, you can omit this part and just roast them after scoring them but they don't get as soft!)

Arrange chestnuts on a baking sheet or in a shallow pan, with the cut sides up. Roast in oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until chestnuts are tender and easy to peel. Peel the nuts when they are cool enough to handle, and eat.

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 

 

15 comments:

  1. Well, that snow didn't hang around for long, did it? Ours isn't going to melt that fast...gotta get above freezing first!
    About a month ago I made a chestnut soup, which was good, certainly not exceptional. I would rather just eat them out of hand.

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  2. I can just hear you singing away...
    Roasting chestnuts is something I have never done, I will just have to live through you!!

    Hopefully our snow will be gone as soon as yours but I have my doubts!

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  3. I wouldn't have minded if it stayed, the roads were all clear.

    Barb, the best chestnuts are roasted in carts in NYC, but I haven't seen them in a really long time, the smell was awesome! So I make do at home. Try it, it's easy and they are so good!

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  4. Unbelievable how quickly your snow melted! Would you like some of ours? LOL.

    I have to make a New Years Resolution to try roasted chestnuts!

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  5. We still have snow, the back yard is still covered..and lots of little floods..which from what I hear will be frozen in a few days..
    The sun made it out here for about an hour around 3..that was it!

    No more snow dances please..or only over your town!

    Enjoy your week off!

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  6. Wow that snow was gone fast! I'm glad your enjoying some sunshine! Can you believe I've never had roasted chestnuts? I don't know if they sell chestnuts in the store here..if they do I've never noticed! If I ever find any I'll have to remember your post.

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  7. I was in Manhattan today and a lot of the push carts had roasted chesnuts! Just love that smell in the air!

    We make them around the holidays too...so good!

    More snow on New Years....it's going to be along winter.

    Have a happy 2010!

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  8. oh i miss roast chestnuts. love love love them. i could eat just that for a meal on its on. unfortunately, we don't get chestnuts here. :(

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  9. Great post Carol! We returned from the city yesterday evening, and your post is bringing back fond memories since we passed by many of the push carts with their roasted chesnuts.

    We are expecting some lake effect snow this week, but right now we are completely green.

    Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2010!

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  10. Our snow has melted away too, I was kind of happy to see it go too. I love the aroma of the chestnuts being roasted. Happy New Years to you and yours.

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  11. Ooooooooooh chestnuts love them, where did the snow disappear and so fast too. Happy new year

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  12. I must not be in the city when the chestnut guys are! I haven't seen them or smelled them :) but I haven't been to the city this winter yet!

    Happy New Year! Maybe getting more snow for New Year's! Was in the 50's yesterday.

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  13. Carol, beautiful snow scene but it certainly didn't last long. I can't hear the word chestnuts without thinking of the song AND Mel Torme.

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  14. I too can't believe all that snow has melted for you already. We got 14" of snow over Christmas and around here that will stay until March.

    Now you have me humming the chestnut song :)

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  15. That was a quick melt. What's it like today?

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