topic Re: Steamed Chestnuts in Community Chat

Steamed Chestnuts

sidsmom — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:14:31 GMT

For the first time, I've tasted steamed chestnuts! Unfortunately they were pre-packaged & not fresh like up North, but this is as good as we're gonna get down in Texas. They had a spongy-like texture & a faint sweet-chocolately-earthy taste. Interesting. I liked it!

Have you eaten fresh chestnuts?

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

CharleyHorse — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:03:59 GMT

Sidsmom, I have never had chestnuts. I have always been curious though because of the song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire). I'll have to try them sometime. CH

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

corita — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 23:17:00 GMT

While growing up out of the US, we had warm chestnuts every Christmas holiday! Love the flavor! My mother made sure that there were always some in the house during the festivities. Would love to have some again, but they don't seem to be available around here..

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

151949 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:06:01 GMT

A neighbor brought some to camp one fall and we roasted them over the campfire. I didn't think they were very good.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Kachina624 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:09:00 GMT

"Chestnut roasting on an open fire" is one Christmas tradition that deserves to die. I think they're awful.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

PeterDM — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 01:16:03 GMT

Chestnuts are wonderful. I used to get them in NYC along with other roasted nuts that you can buy from wagons on the street corners during the holidays. Now that I live in the south, I purchase a bag of them and roast them every now and then. I also buy the ones that are pre cooked in the vacuum sealed bags to eat as snacks, and I also use them to make chestnut soup.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

lovescats — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 02:04:41 GMT

My father used to eat them and that's how I learned to like them. I cuts slits in the tops and boil them for about 20 to 30 minutes. I fix about 10 when I do it but I haven't bought any yet since they're 7.00 a pound this year. And you have to be so careful when you pick them out so you don't get bad ones. If you can get local ones at a farmers market those are the best ones.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

shoekitty — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 02:25:55 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
For the first time, I've tasted steamed chestnuts! Unfortunately they were pre-packaged & not fresh like up North, but this is as good as we're gonna get down in Texas. They had a spongy-like texture & a faint sweet-chocolately-earthy taste. Interesting. I liked it!

Have you eaten fresh chestnuts?

Shoekitty said

I don't like the pre packed at all! I have had Melissa's, and we didn't really care for them. I have had fresh chestnuts, and they are good. Not my favorite food, but if offered I might take one. We live in California, and every holiday season he bought tons of them. He roasted them in the oven, and ate them like crazy! The fresh ones are not spongy to me, but the pre packed are.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Lila Belle — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 03:54:17 GMT

Buying chestnuts from vendors on the street is one thing I miss about living in Europe, especially during the holidays. We love them !

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

MoJoV — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:01:23 GMT

@Lila Belle wrote:
Buying chestnuts from vendors on the street is one thing I miss about living in Europe, especially during the holidays. We love them !

We went to our town Christmas parade this evening and there were vendors selling freshly steamed chestnuts....great fun and delicious!

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

RoughDraft — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:06:27 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
"Chestnut roasting on an open fire" is one Christmas tradition that deserves to die. I think they're awful.

Mel Torme just rolled over.

When I was just a little girl, going into the downtown area at Christmas time to see all the windows dressed, there were chestnut vendors on almost every corner roasting them. I can still smell them. Sweet memories.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

wildcat fan — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:08:54 GMT

We had lots of chestnut trees in my neighborhood when I was growing up in Kentucky. I remember their prickly burrs. Ouch!!!! As a kid, I usually looked for the ones on the ground that were already opened so I wouldn't have to deal with the sharp needle-like covering. We'd eat them right after picking and mama would get after us saying we'd get sick or ruin our supper. She must have had a zillion chestnut recipes, but I always liked them plain.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Lila Belle — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:16:41 GMT

@MoJoV wrote:
@Lila Belle wrote:
Buying chestnuts from vendors on the street is one thing I miss about living in Europe, especially during the holidays. We love them !
We went to our town Christmas parade this evening and there were vendors selling freshly steamed chestnuts....great fun and delicious!

```````````````````````````````````

I'm so envious !

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

hennypenny — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:22:47 GMT

When I was a child there was a man who sold bags of roasted chestnuts from a cart in front of the City of Paris store in San Francisco. I looked forward to it every year.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Irshgrl31201 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:25:27 GMT

I had never had a chestnut until I was in Paris. I really like them.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Kachina624 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 05:52:51 GMT

@Lila Belle wrote:
Buying chestnuts from vendors on the street is one thing I miss about living in Europe, especially during the holidays. We love them !

Street vendors used to sell them in Philadelphia too.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

Pook — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 10:51:52 GMT

My grandmother's fammily had chestnut farms/orchards in northern Italy and every year they would send a huge crate of chestnuts. She would either x slit them and roast them in the oven or x slit them and boil them. I remember waiting impatiently until they were done. I now go to an Italian store and get these wonderful huge Italian chestnuts. When I just want a few I will x slit them and microwave them until they quit whistling but they are not as good.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

CelticCrafter — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 11:09:42 GMT

We always had roasted chestnuts for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I did buy a package of the steamed chestnuts one year and didn't care for them. I think it was the texture.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 11:37:35 GMT

@sidsmom

I bought some like that awhile back and was all excited but I thought they were terrible! Yuck. Years and years ago we used to buy them from a fruit market and they had wonderful fresh ones. We used to roast them in the oven and ate them hot andthey were so good. Haven't had them like this in years.

Re: Steamed Chestnuts

AngelPuppy1 — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 11:40:30 GMT

@lovescats

I have never tried them boiled, only baked in the oven and I do remembe that we cut like an X in them. Can't remember what temp or how long we baked them but I did like them very much. And yes, you are right -- they must be fresh or they are horrible. I bought them once from a grocery store and they were nasty and old and I remember that they were quite expensive. And then they ended up going in the trash. Very disappointing!!!