I love chestnuts!  I had the fondest moments, in my childhood, with chestnuts.  I remember growing up eating chestnuts, in the winter nights, right out of the fire pit.   It’s all toasty and warm and so starchy!

I used to buy my chestnuts at local grocery stores, but found it’s really small.  You have to cook a lot, and have to peel one after the other.  Honestly, who has the patience!  Also your fingers get all tired out by the time you satisfy your “chestnut” crave. 

I recently discovered my local “Asian/Oriental” store carries chestnuts.  It costs little bit more (per pound), but it’s worth spending little extra money.  Generally, the nuts are much larger, usually double in size of the ones you buy at your local grocery stores, and I think it’s heartier. 

If you live in larger towns you can usually find these specialty stores; especially if you live in or around college towns.  They do not advertise what-so-ever – it’s all word of mouth.  Check your phone book – sometimes they have it in the yellow pages, but no guarantees. 

My parents used to roast these things in the fire pit – making them all smoky.  It does have extra/special taste to the nuts, but it’s really not convenient for my family.  So I usually toast them in the oven.
When I toast these yummies I turn on my Christmas music collection in my kitchen, and play with my kids in the living room while they are getting roasted.  The house is soon filled with the smell of chestnuts, and it just brings happiness. 

When it’s time for eating I usually slice the nuts in half, and give my children a spoon to scrape the insides out – that’s what my mom used to do, so it’s a tradition for me.  Also, it saves me time to eat the nuts myself. 

If you didn’t know how to roast these things, it’s quite easy.  Here’s the direction.

Step one:
Heat oven to 400 to 425 degrees F (depending on the size of the nuts)  — I prefer roasting them slowly.

Step two:
Cut each chestnut using a sharp knife … making an X on one side (on flat side of the nuts)

Step three:
Place nuts onto a cookie sheet with cut side up– make sure you cover the cookie sheet with an aluminum foil.

Step four:
Put the cookie sheet into the oven.  Cook them for 25 minutes or so.  You can see when it’s done when the skin is “peeling” off the nuts.

Step Five:
Let it cool little bit so you don’t burn your fingers.  Then take a sharp kitchen knife and cut the nuts in half, and scoop it out.  (I think this is a best way to eat it because it’s still nice and warm). 

Step Six:
Enjoy it!!  This can be part of your family tradition.

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