I've noticed that I have a tendency to write about useful things you can do with this, that or the other. But sometimes you just don't feel like doing anything very much, so here's a post about not doing anything much. When we went to Surry last week, and collected the acorns I told you about, we also collected these
lovely sweet chestnuts. My husband hails from Surrey and has fond memories of collecting chestnuts as a child. I was quite amazed at how prolific they were - I don't know about other areas of the country, certainly a sweet chestnut in this part of Wiltshire is uncommon, but Surrey is heavily wooded and seems to support the growth of this lovely tree and its equally lovely fruit. Naturally the nuts you pick in the wild are not so big as the ones in the shops, most of which are imported, in fact I think they are all imported. If you want English ones you have to go and get them. French chestnuts are delicious though. I'm starting to see that the further south you go the better the chestnuts seem to get. Anyway, don't despise the humble english offering, it's fresh, wild and free.
We collected quite a lot in the space of half an hour, and I had intended to do something useful and clever with them. But on Saturday night, it was cold, we lit a fire, David roasted the chestnuts, and we just ate them, What could be nicer than a roaring fire, the Guardian supplement, a glass of something, and a plate of roasted chestnuts.
Dear Kathy, Ah, these simple pleasures...never to be underestimated and never overlooked in my book. Your evening sounds to have been just perfect!
ReplyDeleteSOunds like a wonderful evening! i just love finding free stuff from nature!
ReplyDeleteNothing is better than free if you have the get up and go to get up and go get them!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy. Thank you for visiting A Rural Journal -- and your question about the potato bag was a good one. The bag captures steam -- and that's what cooks the potatoes so evenly and quickly. Without the bag, sometimes I would have potatoes with hard spots that cooked too much, or the potato became dehydrated and wrinkly.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lovely evening! The chestnuts look heavenly!
That's interesting about chestnuts being better the further South you go. We planted some chestnut trees in a mixed woodland we created and the chestnuts are nothing to speak of at all - just empty pods really.
ReplyDeleteI thought they'll maybe get better as they mature (they're about 18 years old) but now I wonder if they won't. I'm in North Lincolnshire.
This is another nut that we have never had the opportunity to eat but hope to someday in the future as we are growing a few of our own chestnut trees. What could be better than fresh, wild and free.:)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I am in Surrey I should keep my eyes out for these when I'm on one of my runs!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Edith, simple pleasures are often the best
ReplyDeleteHi Melodie, the "free" element does make it even nicer I have to admit
Hello Sharon, as it was on our way, it was just so easy to stop and collect them
Thanks Nancy, The chestnuts did indeed contribute to a lovely evening
Hello Little Blue Mouse, I fear you may have some trouble with chestnuts, although I read recently that there are new more productive varieties available now. Hopefully you will get a good crop next time we have a hot summer....
Hi Mr H I hope you climate is the right one for chestnuts, they seem to like it quite mild as far as I can make out..
Hi Kooky Girl Do have a look out, I'm sure you'll have no difficulty, we were in the Hindhead area, and there were loads.
Just found your great blog. I was intrigued by the chestnut post. We have two chestnut trees here on our farm in West Virginia. We collected a bunch of them this fall and are looking for recipes to use them in. Looking forward to more :)
ReplyDeleteAmy
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteI have a inquiry for the webmaster/admin here at the-cottage-gardener.blogspot.com.
Can I use part of the information from this post right above if I provide a link back to this site?
Thanks,
James
Hi James, This particular post doesn't seem very information rich to me, but please feel free to use it and link back to me. Kathy
ReplyDeleteThe cottage garden farmer is showing the collection of lovely sweet chestnuts. This also explains the Seasonal Tips and Recipes.
ReplyDelete