Another great year for sweet chestnuts - too many for the squirrels and jays to cope with, so I was able to collect a large basket full of them.
Let's see what we can make with this wild bounty - starting with Sweet Chestnut Biscuits.
Monday, October 6, 2014
By Mike on Monday, October 6, 2014, 23:31
Another great year for sweet chestnuts - too many for the squirrels and jays to cope with, so I was able to collect a large basket full of them.
Let's see what we can make with this wild bounty - starting with Sweet Chestnut Biscuits.
Monday, May 20, 2013
By Mike on Monday, May 20, 2013, 23:56
May 2013 - Time for Earthnuts - not actually a nut, but they do grow in the earth - and they are somewhat nutty!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
By Mike on Saturday, October 27, 2012, 12:32
October 2012 - it's a great year for sweet chestnuts - must be all that rain we had instead of a summer.
It's a race against the squirrels for these tasty treats - but this time, I won, and returned home with a couple of pounds of lovely plump chestnuts.
Monday, August 29, 2011
By Mike on Monday, August 29, 2011, 22:09
August 2011 - This doesn't happen often - although hazel trees are common, and produce nuts in abundance year after year, it always seems like the squirrels, mice, jays and weevils snaffle the crop before humans can get a look in.
Time and chance was kind to me on this occasion though and I was delighted to gather a satisfying heap of hazelnuts.
Friday, July 2, 2010
By Mike on Friday, July 2, 2010, 21:31
Walnut trees are not uncommon on chalk downland in the South of England - I found some at St Catherines Hill near Winchester.
It's not going to be easy to beat the squirrels when the nuts are fully mature, but in early summer when they're stlll soft and green, they can be gathered for pickling.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
By Mike on Sunday, November 1, 2009, 21:40
While I was preparing acorns for cakes on the previous page, I noticed their similarity to chickpeas in texture, flavour and consistency. I thought it would be interesting to try making them into a savoury snack - acorn falafel.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
By Mike on Saturday, October 17, 2009, 20:47
There are dozens of different species of oak. Some produce acorns that are only edible to humans after processing to remove the bitter tannins, however, they're not all like that - so I set out to try eating some.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
By Mike on Thursday, October 8, 2009, 22:36
Beech nuts are in season - and this is one kind of nut I've never seen in the shops - so I went out to the woods gather some
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
By Mike on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 20:36
Spurred on by earlier positive results with edible acorns, I went back and picked a whole basketful - now to see what I can make with them - starting with a rich acorn gingerbread.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
By Mike on Saturday, May 9, 2009, 21:58
I like coconut - I was opening one the other day and started wondering what I could make out of the tough, durable shells...
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