How to Roast Chestnuts

We all have heard the Christmas song – “Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire”. But have you ever actually roasted chestnuts? Every year my (Matt’s) mom would scavenge through the grocery stores to find the hard to find Chestnuts. Each Christmas she would cook them for our family. Chestnuts have a dry taste to them and are some what in need of a salt dip and a good cup of cider to go with it. If you are lucky enough to find these in your grocery store and have never had them, they are a fun way to spend time enjoying some Christmas music, a warm cup of cider, and your family making memories.

Ingredients:

1 pound Chestnuts

Items needed:

• Roasting pan or cookie sheet
• Salt
• some friends to share the Holidays

First lay them all out with the flat side down. With a large knife that is easy to hold and with some weight to it. Tap small “X” shapes into the top of the shell. Be careful not to slice down into the Chestnut inside. Chestnuts have a inner husk also that peels off after roasting.

Place on a cookie sheet and roast the chestnuts in the oven for about 15 mins. The main thing is to allow the shell X you cut to peel back.

Once the shells start to peel back you can take one out to try it out. The nuts are soft nuts and have a “chew” to them. They shouldn’t be hard. Some nuts in stores tend to be old or dried out so it is hit and miss on the year if you get good nuts or not.

Now pour a little pile of salt on your plate, break up the soft warm roasted Chestnuts and enjoy. They are as some say – different, but it is always a fun event to remember and enjoy with my family and I know yours will love it too.

Merry Christmas