1. Chestnuts
Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Growing up with the words from the Nat King Cole Song, “the Christmas song "still brings warming memories of the season.
I have been fortunate enough to camp and partake in roasting chestnuts on an open fire, peeling and eating them. What a treat this is.
We will show you how to prepare the fresh chestnuts to eat or prepare in your favorite recipes

2. Chestnuts ripening on the tree
These porcupine looking creatures ripening on the tree, once harvested, yield a classic Chestnut for recipes

3. Chestnuts
From Tree
To Table

4. This is the nut in shell coming out of the pod

5. Preparing Chestnuts 3. This is a Chestnut with a X, mark for roasting
1. Washed Cleaned Husked Chestnuts
2. Mark Chestnuts with X, to pierce shell

6. 4. Chestnuts prepared for roasting
5. Roast at 350 for 45 to 75 minutes
6. Remove nut from shells

7. Roasted Chestnut Recipes
7. Prepared Chestnuts
Chestnut Stuffing
Chestnut Soup
1 lb. of cubed bread, toast in oven at 250 for 15 – 20 minutes until dry and toasty
2 stalks celery, peeled cut, small dice, see knife cuts
1 small onion, peeled cut, small dice, see knife cuts
2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 stick butter, salted or unsalted
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chicken stock
In skillet melt butter and sautee onions and celery until tender
Add toasted bread cubes, toss together
Add slowly chicken stock until desired consistency. (some like “flaky” stuffing utilizing less stock, some like it more densely moist., go with your preference)
Bake in casserole dish at 350 for 30 – 40 minutes
4 oz. Bacon, cooked, dice reserve fat
2 T. Shallot, mince, or 1 small onion
2 Carrot, diced small
2 Ribs Celery
1 Quart Chicken stock
½ cup Heavy Cream
1 Bay Leaf
½ tsp. Thyme or 1 sprig fresh
Grated Nutmeg to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 ½ lbs Whole prepared shelled chestnuts
3 oz. flour
In stock pot sautee, shallot, carrot, celery in bacon fat. Add chestnuts, toast in pan, add flour. Cook until flour is toasted.
Add Stock, simmer for 30 minutes. Blend to smooth. Return to stove add cream, and spices. Simmer for 30 minutes. Adjust Seasononings and serve