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Silver Ether wrote:

Millymollymandy wrote:

Silver Ether wrote:Whats the best way of storing chestnuts, the sweet ones that is after you have cooked them ... I love them and find them really usefull to add to stews.

In the freezer!

bloody eck ... cant get much more in there

They don't take up much room and you can squeeze them in the nooks and crannies.

Millymollymandy wrote:

Silver Ether wrote:

Millymollymandy wrote: In the freezer!

bloody eck ... cant get much more in there

They don't take up much room and you can squeeze them in the nooks and crannies.

"giggles" I will wrap them in pairs and wait for the expression on hubs face when he finds them

Just been reading up on Wiki about chestnuts. On wa\lk yesterday found what I thought was a sweet chestnut, fruit was spikeless.
Looked like an apple from a distance until you got close to see foliage.
It says on wiki that the poison can be washed out by repeated dipping in boiling water. Makes a starchy flour.
Something similar on BBC2 on Ray Mears show. He did it with acorns.

If it has no spikes and resembles an apple, it isn't a chestnut! Don't eat it if you don't know what it is!

Size and shape of an apple, smooth skin, no spikes, cut it open, one nut inside resembling a conker.
Deciduous leaves yet to compare with known horse chestnut leaves. Left it with a neighbour to identify.

I can't think what that could be. Please let us know if you identify it!

Sounded a bit like a quince until you mentioned the nut inside.
Intriguing

My own way of peeling them - http://hedgewizardsdiary.blogspot.com/s ... +chestnuts

Last year I bodged candying them but they've kept perfectly well for a year by being boiled in vanilla-infused sugar syrup and then bottled in it. I put the jar in the fridge once it's open, and add them as a sweet meaty treat into fruit pies and crumbles, cakes and even porridge when I get bored.

Ahhhhhhh - rubber gloves!!!! I'd already sussed out it is best to only do a few at a time, because the skins just stick back on again.

I will have to have another go - really wasn't looking forward to it. Cheers mate!

has anyone had any this year? My usual trees are rubbish this year. As for storage, it's hard enough waiting until peeled before devouring. I managed to resist a few last year which went in with the sprouts, but theyare so nice, I always find a reason to eat them

Archie wrote:Size and shape of an apple, smooth skin, no spikes, cut it open, one nut inside resembling a conker.
Deciduous leaves yet to compare with known horse chestnut leaves. Left it with a neighbour to identify.

Anything like this?

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... 23&start=0
Cheers
Zoe

Medlars have lots of little smooth stones/pips.

No Thomzo not medlars, these about 2" across...neighbour naturalist thinks they are sweet chestnuts but has given me blossom indicator for next year to be sure.
Am now carless..god I feel cool...so not until tomorrow will I be able to collect another sample...first one gorn, then will take picture and post.

Archie, I ahve to comment on your signature phrase- leave ony footprints, take only photographs & wabbits can I add slugs and snails!!

By the way I've never seen a chestnut 2" across, where do you live? Bornio?! Can't wait for the ID....

Hi Peggy....2" including the non spiky casing.
Just got in from viewing couldn't see any fruits? to pick, anyway got diverted when heard a squeal, stoat or weasel killing a rabbit, had hgim by the throat, then run off . No doubt he will be back later to drag it away. Aint life cruel.
Know godmanchester..ye olde bridge.