I wanna forage me some chestnuts!

[southeast-isher]

Can't wait to get out into the region and rummage around for chestnuts - not sure if i'm a wee bit early but i might try and get out mid-week. Anyone had any luck finding (m)any? What have you done with them?

Am i right that they are (all?) the Spanish variety in this country? Have a few nice spots sussed out so will try and keep you posted on if i have any joy...

Happy hunting.

[Thomzo]

I take it you're talking about sweet chestnuts, not horse ones.

Cheers
Zoe

[Carltonian Man]

We usually gather chestnuts around Halloween time. Unfortunately the windfall cases so far this year contain very feeble nuts so it doesn't look too promising for a good harvest. Some years are like that.. Maybe it's the lack of rain over the last month.
Hopefully it will be better where you are

Martin

[Mrs Moustoir]

Lots of windfall chestnuts in these parts at the moment but they are not ready yet.
Still pale and so far, pretty small.

[Millymollymandy]

Oh boo that means they'll probably be the same here then Mrs M. Just drove through the ones where I pick (they fall all over the road and get squashed) and thought I'd better hotfoot it up there in the next day or two as so many have dropped.

Anyway if they are rubbish I still have loads of peeled and cooked ones in the freezer from last year and they last at least 2 years in the freezer!

[Hedgehogpie]

That's funny, here in Kent we've been gathering them for the last week or so and although there has been the odd small and wrinkly under developed or under-ripe one, many are nice, plump and perfectly ripe. I've been roasting them in preparation for making brandied chestnuts (something that I've not tried before but the recipe I found sounds very tasty!) and every day we've been going out and getting a few more when we walk the dogs.

I think there's still a chance for a harvest - don't give up hope yet!

[southeast-isher]

Hi Zoe yes definitely the sweet chestnuts - i won't mistake them! Have picked them since i was a kid. Though the horse ones are supposed to ward off spiders - anyone know if there's any truth to that?!

Thanks Hedgehog for the inspiration. So far i've found precious not much from the windfalls so far but will give it a couple of weeks maybe. Not sure if there are (m)any different varieties throughout the UK but maybe you got the the right conditions going on over Kent way!

[Hedgehogpie]

Just in case you need a bit more inspiration to sustain you till you find some here's the recipe I found for Brandied Chestnuts. It sounds really yummy!

Brandied Chestnuts (marrone al liquore)
Prep Time: :45
Cook Time: :45
Ingredients:
4 1/2 pounds (2 k) chestnuts
18 ounces (500 g) sugar
1 quart (1 liter) water
1/2 quart (500 ml) rum, cognac or brandy
2 bay leaves
4 cloves
Preparation:
Carefully peel off the outer skins of the chestnuts, without nicking the inner skins, and set them in a large pot of cold water, with the bay leaf and the cloves. When you are finished peeling bring the pot to a slow boil and cook the chestnuts 25 minutes. Carefully remove the chestnuts with a slotted spoon and set them on a plate to cool. When they have almost completely cooled use a thin bladed knife to remove the inner skins, being careful because the chestnuts will be crumbly.

Combine the sugar and the water in a broad pot, bring it to a boil, and skim the froth that rises to the surface. After 8 minutes add the chestnuts to the syrup and let them simmer without stirring them for 5 more minutes, over a very low flame. Let everything cool and then carefully remove the chestnuts with a slotted spoon, layering them in an elegant, wide-mouthed jar. Return the pot to the fire and bring the syrup back to a boil. Skim off the froth several times, add the liquor, stir, and let it cool to room temperature. Once it has cooled gently pour it over the chestnuts. If there's not enough liquid to cover them add more alcohol to cover, without stirring. Seal the jar with a well fitting lid, and set it in a cool dark place for 2 weeks or more.

[southeast-isher]

I found 1.116kg in the end! May end up just roasting them as like them this way.

[Hedgehogpie]

Brilliant

[Carltonian Man]

I stand corrected. The chestnuts on some trees are small and feeble but this weekend we found others that are as plump and round as anyone could wish

[Mrs Moustoir]

Ditto here. What a difference a week makes as we collected loads over the weekend and had chestnut and smoky bacon stuffing with our roast chicken yesterday. Yum!

I think I was just too impatient but they are definitely ready now as are the hazelnuts. :)

Perhaps we should have a chestnut recipe thread....?

[Millymollymandy]

I thought we did or is that another thread? I distinctly remember posting about the chestnuts I gathered, AND a recipe..... or was that another forum? Off to have a look!

[Millymollymandy]

Look 4 threads down.

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 23&t=16312

[Mrs Moustoir]

Oh yes, I remember reading those especially the "slimming" one.
Cheers!