On my list of plans for Autumn I specifically remember noting that we wanted to forage sweet chestnuts. Two weeks ago we took a little trug bucket and set off for a spot we had previously found some nuts. It became immediately apparent that we were too late; nothing on the tree and only empty, spent husks on the ground. It looked like we had missed it by a mile, which made me feel immensely guilty as this is one of C's favourite treats. Last year we found some good trees on a walk but it was a long way from home and the thought of heading off for a long drive only to find we had missed those as well sounded like a poor use of time. I resigned myself to the fact we would have to buy them this time and remain more vigilant next year.
However, on Sunday we set off for a new walking destination and found plenty of sweet chestnut trees with nuts to collect! It was unexpected and we took home a couple of handfuls. Sweet chestnuts can vary in size and its only the medium and large sizes which are any use. If you're not already 100% sure then make sure you take a reference when foraging so you don't muddle them up with conkers which are NOT EDIBLE. Caution should be used and always look up to check you've not got a sweet chestnut and horse chestnut tree side by side.


Have you been gathering sweet chestnuts? Ours were roasted and nibbled that same evening.
Take care,
Sophie

In years gone by we've had mixed success with foraging sweet chestnuts. The roasted delights you buy on the Christmas markets are plump and beautiful but in the majority of our foraging expeditions the fruits of those spiky shells are significantly smaller than their counterparts.



I'm not entirely sure when the best time to attempt finding the best ones dawns. Is it the first ones to drop? Or the ones that ripen on the tree then spill out onto the floor or the oldest hanging around on the forest floor? No idea. Either way, it's easiest to pick shelled whole nuts, then the partially opened shells and finally to prise open a sealed shell. They're prickly and the spines are dense. Feet or a couple of sticks are your best bet. They are ripe when brown.
We stumbled across a pretty decent fall of nuts so were able to pick and choose a little more. There's no point roasting tiny ones, they shrivel up to dust.


C cuts a cross into each one to avoid an explosion but even so we did have a couple of casualties. The inner shin which is like a hairy thin layer of card can be eaten if your nut is being a nuisance and refuses to peel off it's coats. Obviously roasting in an open fire would be most poetic but failing that, the oven will suffice.
There are plenty of recipes which revolve around this seasonal wonder but I prefer to savour them just as they are, plus a sprinkle of salt.
Are you foraging chestnuts this year?

Take care,
Sophie

Foraging for sweet chestnuts sounds so cute doesn't it? If you're picturing me with fingerless gloves, wellies and a wicker basket (amongst my usual, unusual getup) then you'd be sorely mistaken. We stumbled across the fallen bounty by chance; in my case that's most likely to be literally – if there's a tripping hazard around I'll be sure to find it.

It wasn't long before I discovered just how prickly the outer shells are (ouch!) so I had to improvise with two sticks to try prising them open which looks particularly stupid but the squirrels had already whisked away the majority of the chestnuts so we had to work with what we found.

Many of the sweet chestnuts were teeny tiny but we did find enough decent size specimens for a bowlful.

That's another autumn 'must do' struck off the imaginary list.

Sophie