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Family in a Nut Shell
Family in a Nut Shell

When you are a child, certain memories linger in your heart because of the

sights and scents that anchor them there. For me, Thanksgiving was always a special

time when family would gather around the dinner table, and though the years have

passed, it is the special flavor of the holiday that has stayed with me, coloring my

memories.

My earliest Thanksgiving memories bring my grandmother to mind warm

smile, swift hands, making magic in her kitchen. Nana always kept fresh chestnuts on

hand for the holiday table, and I would always ask her how a nut could possibly be in

every one of her yummy treats! She would laugh and say fresh chestnuts are very much

like our family inside their strong shells lie the sweet and tender hearts that give flavor

and sweetness to everything. Side by side, I would watch her boil the fresh chestnuts

and she would show me how to peel them with care, setting them aside for her delicious

dishes.

Nana made the most incredible breads, stuffing, sauces, and spreads from

the unassuming little nut, but her fresh chestnut desserts are the real anchors of my

memory. Whether candied or creamed, dipped in chocolate or whipped into mousse,

fresh chestnuts were the main staple of her special, secret recipes that defined my

childhood.

Nana went to great lengths to make the holiday favorite of each of her

grandchildren, and when it came to my favorite chestnut chocolate mousse she

would seat me by her side at the kitchen counter, revealing the magical recipe to me,

step by enchanted step. First, we would choose large fresh chestnuts that were solid

with a glossy, brown exterior, pleasing to the eye and touch, and score them with a

special chestnut knife to make sure the steam would not be trapped inside during

roasting. Then we would place them in a chestnut roaster the open fire type to give

them that full, robust flavor. Once cooked, we would carefully peel them and heat them

in a saucepan, simmering the roasted fresh chestnuts in their sugary juices to make

a sweet puree. Nana would then melt blocks of dark chocolate, slowly folding in the

vanilla-scented puree, careful to add whipped cream slowly to the mix and presto! My

favorite mousse was poured into tall glasses, topped with a few chocolate curls and a

perfect, roasted fresh chestnut, ready to be served.

Today I have my own family to set the table for, and Ive never forgotten Nanas

Thanksgiving delights. Still traditions and recipes ingredients dont change; I still use

fresh chestnuts abundantly in my dishes with all my neighbors asking for the recipe.

As Thanksgiving draws near, I have already bought fresh chestnuts to make sure that I

have enough for Thanksgiving.

I think using fresh chestnut in my dishes has gotten into my bones especially for

thanksgivings, as I dont feel right without it, and this year is going to be no exception.

by: Girolami Farms Chestnuts

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