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"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . ." Roast some chestnuts or plant a chestnut tree.
One of the harbingers of the holiday season is the appearance of chestnuts - roasted chestnuts from push cart vendors on New York City streets and the intriguing fat polished brown nuts in produce markets. It’s a tradition. Roasting chestnuts or at least eating roasted chestnuts is something you must do every year, like making fruit cake, in order to fulfill all of the hedonistic requirements of the season. So, here's how to roast chestnuts, and while we are at it, lets consider planting a chestnut tree so chestnuts will be here for generations to come.
How to Roast Chestnuts.
Here's Peggy Trowbridge Filippone's recipe for roasting chestnuts from About.com [2]
With a little preparation and attention, it is easy to roast chestnuts at home. Peel roasted chestnuts as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Once they cool completely, they are difficult to peel.
INGREDIENTS: 1/2 pound chestnuts PREPARATION: Preheat oven to 425 F. Find the flat side of each chestnut and cut a large X with a sharp paring knife all the way through the skin. Place chestnuts on a shallow baking pan and place in the oven to roast for about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on size of nuts. Shake pan several times to rotate chestnuts so they will cook evenly. If you just want them cooked enough to peel, roast for 10 to 15 minutes. Peel roasted chestnuts as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Once they cool completely, they are difficult to peel. However, they may be reheated briefly to aid in peeling. [Sponsored Links deleted]
Chestnuts may also be roasted on the outdoor grill. Watch carefully and turn them often. Another favorite method for small amounts is stovetop, particularly on a gas stove. Place on top of a flame-tamer and cover with a deep lid. Roast over low heat until done, about 10 minutes, turning often to cook evenly. Yield: 1/2 pound roasted chestnuts [2]
Harvesting and eating roasted chestnuts in the late fall is a tradition probably as old as man's use of fire.
Plant a Chestnut Tree.
Most people know that the nut of the American chestnut, Castanea dentata, was a food for the aboriginal inhabitants of North America, and that the majestic trees, soaring to 120 ft. and up to 15 ft in diameter, persisted here until nearly the entire species was decimated by the chestnut blight (Endothiaparasitca) in the 1930s. Today, The American Chestnut Foundation has started a program of back breeding to produce blight resistant American chestnut trees. The purpose of this program is to re-introduce the American chestnut as a forest tree. [3]
1. American Chestnut. Castanea dentata. 2. Allegheny chinkapin. Castanea pumila var. pumila.
The Allegheny chinkapin or chinquapin, Castanea pumila var. pumila, is a dwarf relative of the American chestnut, and both are susceptible to chestnut blight. However, in forests where American chestnuts have been reduced to mere sprouts, Allegheny chinkapins seem to be holding their own if they can get enough light for growth. [4] The Allegheny chinkapin is a small tree to 30 ft. and the bur holds only one small very sweet nut. Chinkapins are discussed in this thread in the Fruit and Nut Forum. A number of American chestnut hybrids are now available. [5]
There are, however, several other species of chestnut trees that produce wonderful chestnuts. The Chinese chestnut, Castanea mollissima, provides most of the commercial chestnuts available in markets. (See Thumbnail) The European or Spanish chestnut, Castanea sativa, produces a large sweet nut. The Japanese chestnut, Castanea crenata, is a large tree from 40 to 60 ft at maturity. It produces relatively large chestnuts that are 1 or 2 inches in diameter. There are two or three nuts in a bur. Paul Sisco, an American Chestnut Foundation Regional Coordinator, describes the major types of chestnut and features that distinguish each species. [6]
R.H. Zander of the Missouri Botanic Garden offers a more technical guide to the identification of chestnut species. [7] Taynors, Darius, and Garden Mermaid discuss vendors and chestnuts in this thread in the Fruits and Nuts Forum. There are recipes and links to more recipes here also.
Horsechestnuts: Conkers and Buckeyes.
There are a few types of trees that closely resemble chestnuts, but they are not true chestnuts (castanea spp.). Of interest are the Horsechestnuts. [8] The Horsechestnut, Aesculus hippcastanum, is a majestic tree that produces fruit encased in a burr, similar to a chestnut, but the fruit is not edible. The nuts contain Aesculin, a toxin to many animals including humans. Aboriginal Americans, however, were able to leach the toxin from the nut, rendering the nut meal edible. They also used the powdered horse chestnut's toxic ability to stun fish. [9] In England horsechestnuts are called "conkers". (See photograph 6) [10] The nuts or conkers are fascinating toys for young children, especially young male children. The rules for the game of "conkers" are described in this Wikipedia article. [11] The North Dakota version of that game, "Kinger" is played with Ohio Buckeye nuts. In North Dakota, the game was considered a boy's game, but girls were allowed to kiss the buckeyes.
5. Horsechestnut. Conker Tree. Aesculus hippocastanum. 6. Conkers and Fruit Cases.
According to Ron Smith, Horticulturalist for the North Dakota State Extention Service, the relationship of Buckeyes to Horsechestnuts is analogous to the relationship between the spider monkey and King Kong. The Ohio Buckeye, Aesculus glabra, is usually a much smaller tree. [12] The State of Ohio, in fact is called the Buckeye State, and of course everyone from Ohio thinks just being from that state is lucky even if they now live in Florida. [13] And of course, most people who know football, know that the Ohio Buckeyes are not horsechestnuts. [14]
There is an American folk tradition that carrying a buckeye in one's pocket will bring good luck. Lucky buckeyes were carried in men's pockets, sometimes through the decades of a man‘s life. In fact, sorting through some 5000 artifacts of a historic house here in Greensboro, Alabama, I was stunned by the paucity of material remains I could assign to a man who had lived in that house for nearly all of his 100 years. A bible study notebook, a bentwood cane, and a polished buckeye: these were the possessions that remain from a very long life.
10. Horsechestnut tree in full bloom 11. Detail. Horsechestnut Flowers.
beside a country road near Buckley, Michigan.
FOOTNOTES:
"Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire . . ." The Christmas Song." www.carols.org.uk
PHOTO CREDITS: Photographs 1 - 9: Daves Garden Plant Files. Photographs 10-11. A.C. Church, with permission. Thanks, Allan.
Thumbnail. Ohio Breezy. Chinese Chestnuts. Castanea mollisma.
Riversandbar. American Chestnut. Castanea dentata.
Penn Pete. Chinkapin. Castanea pumila var. pumila.
Philomel. Spanish Chestnut. Castanea sativa.
Philomel. Spanish Chestnut. Castanea sativa. Chestnuts in burr.
Kennedyh. Horsechestnut. Conker tree. Aesculus hippocastanum "A very old Horsechestnut tree (and snowdrops) in the grounds of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, England, April 1998.
Philomel. October 3, 2004. "Conkers and fruit cases SW France"
Decumbent. Ohio Buckeye. Aesculus glabra.
Viburnum Valley. April 19, 2007. "Ohio Buckeye end on view closeup of flowers showing radial arrangement, Nicholasville, Ky."
Magpye. June 17, 2007. "A couple of 'nuts' (fruit) on the Ohio Buckeye at the Ponca Elk Center, Ponca AR"
Horsechestnut in full bloom beside a country road near Buckley, Michigan. A.C. Church.
Detail. Horsechestnut flowers. A.C. Church.
About Gloria Cole
I am a retired archeologist and curator of an historic house museum. I live in Greensboro, Alabama, a small rural historic Southern town, with my two dogs, a rabbit and (by recent count) two cats. I am upgrading a 100 year old neoclassic house and clearing and planting my two-and-one-half acre property. Of plants, I love roses best of all.
Posted by lcosden (from Pawling, NY) on December 19, 2007 at 6:13 PM:
Great Timing.. Just bought half a pound of the stuff and wondering how to roast them.. Lo and behold, DG has the answer for me.. Yet again too.. Thank you.. Gonna go roast some to enjoy. :)
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 19, 2007 at 6:23 PM:
Icosden: If they're fresh you can plant them, too. Good project for kids.
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Posted by lcosden (from Pawling, NY) on December 19, 2007 at 6:30 PM:
Really, I have to save one for that then.. Cuz I love chestnuts and having my own chestnut tree would just be fabulous.. :)
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Subject: Great article
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on December 19, 2007 at 9:22 AM:
Loved your article. We are talking about replacing our 2 black walnuts which are getting tired with more. But I believe we might be able to find space for a couple of these. What beautiful trees!
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on December 19, 2007 at 11:08 AM:
Have recently planted a buckeye that I received at our local RU. It is native to East Texas so not exactly sure what it is but am anxious to see it sprout.
Thank you. Obvious that you did a great deal of research for our benefit.
LouC
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Subject: Nicely written
Posted by ViburnumValley (from Scott County, KY) on December 19, 2007 at 7:52 AM:
Good information, Gloria. Did you run across any recipes for Maronencremesuppe (creamed chestnut soup)? Mmmmm.
I can't vouch for any hard and fast rules, but in the battle of the sexes while growing up in central KY, my big sister didn't recognize any sense of separation. Despite having nine brothers, she held her own with any indigenous weaponry and buckeyes were often a favorite.
I have the lumps to prove it.
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 19, 2007 at 9:16 AM:
Good morning VV! Do you have the recipe? I was the only girl amongst 5 brothers growing up in northern Michigan and I still have the lumps to prove it.
Boy, am I glad we didn't have conkers/buckeyes in our woods. I don't know why they weren't there, because horse chestnuts do grow in that area - as shown by the stand of blooming chestnuts in the picture at the bottom of the page. These are growing along the roadside not too far from our woods at home.
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Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on December 19, 2007 at 10:13 AM:
Timely article with great information, Gloria! Thanks. In Queens, we would occasionally stumble upon one of the aforementioned trees and it would trigger a battle. We had some bruises, but luckily no major injuries!
I looked forward every year to the aroma of roasting chestnuts in Manhattan. Would not be the same without it.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on December 19, 2007 at 10:36 AM:
Wonderful - my grandpa came over from Wales as a young boy and grew up not far from where he landed on Ellis Island - I still remember the shiny chestnuts he always had in his pocket. Thank you for that memory :)
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on December 19, 2007 at 11:59 AM:
A very beautifully written and full of information article....I still have some buckeyes stashed away in a memory box from many years ago.
I enjoyed reading your article. Thank you.
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 19, 2007 at 1:29 PM:
I have just received this information about the chestnut project at SUNY-ESF from former dg member, LuckyP.
Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 19, 2007 at 3:47 PM:
Gloria, thanks for an interesting article. I have never had a "roasted chestnut", nor do I ever remember seeing the tree. Protected life I spose. At least now I know a little more about them, I sit here saying "so that's a buckeye! Your article taught me many things this morning!
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Shari
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 19, 2007 at 4:19 PM:
Islandshari: You are not likely to see a chestnut tree or have chestnuts to roast in the Marshall Islands. Its kind of like snowballs in Alabama. Not likely. If I had a buckeye I would send you one. For luck.
Thanks for your comments.
gloria
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on December 19, 2007 at 11:49 PM:
What a fun article! I never heard of such games--good thing we didn't have buckeyes in my old neighborhood, when I was a kid. LOL Our woods here are filled with them. They're pretty--too bad they're not edible for us. Squirrels love 'em, though.
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 20, 2007 at 6:40 AM:
Hey Ky Woods: Im glad you enjoyed my article! I learned a lot myself doing the research for it. I learned that you can also make necklaces out of the buckeyes as well as just carry them in your pocket if you had one.
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on December 20, 2007 at 9:02 PM:
Really? Never thought of that. Hmm, I bet one polished one as a pendant on a chain might actually be pretty...thanks, Gloria!
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 20, 2007 at 9:17 PM:
Send us a photo if you decide to make one, KyWoods.
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on December 20, 2007 at 9:29 PM:
...or even two or three with interesting beads between them. Yep, I can picture that! If I can find any that the critters haven't eaten, I may just try it. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on December 21, 2007 at 6:18 PM:
