Oh, but wait. It does not have to be wintry to enjoy chestnuts. Yes, prime season is Fall and Winter(
hello chestnuts and Brussels sprouts), but a recent wander thru the farmer's market (
a stop at Hillside Orchards stand to be specific) and, low and behold, one of my favs in another form. Or I should say forms: chestnuts peeled, frozen, vacuum-packed and ready to go, chestnut flour, and something I had not seen before, chestnut 'slices' and 'chips'
(these are freeze dried slices of chestnuts to enjoy as is as a snack, garnish salads or veggies, pulverize to a 'breading' for fish or meats, or rehydrate and use like you would fresh chestnuts.)
Oh sure, frozen are a great stand-in for fresh: to use in stuffings and soups, but the sweet tooth has been doggin' me a bit more than usual (I'll blame Easter, yeah, that's it...) so I'm thinking souffles, puddings, ice cream, or puree (for crepe filling, of course). Why stop at the crepe filling, bring on the chestnut flour to make those crepes, that need filling.
Chestnut flour. In both Europe, and here in the States, chestnut flour was a staple used more than wheat flour. It was the wheat flour that was more of a luxury (go figure). Then bam, a 20th century chestnut blight, and oh how the tables turned. But lucky us, the majority of stateside chestnut growers, rebuilding blighted trees, are located just across 'the lake' in Michigan.
Gluten-free, low fat, and nutritious, chestnut flour is a great stand-in for wheat flour. Chestnut flour does lack gluten, and is denser than wheat flour, so in some recipes you might want to mix with wheat flour, or other GF flours if you are celiac or gluten intolerant. You don't want to mess around with mixing flours, and are hankering to whip up something sweet? Here is a simple and delicious brownie recipe courtesy of the
Chestnut Growers, Inc. (
which Hillside Orchards is a member of):
Chestnut Brownies
2/3 cup chestnut flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
2 oz unsweetened chocolate
4 oz bittersweet chocolate
1 stick plus 2 T butter
1 c sugar
2 t vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 c chestnut 'slices' or walnuts or pecans (optional)
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk flour, salt and baking powder in small bowl; set aside. Fit a 16x12 inch piece of foil in the bottom of a 13"x9" pan, using the overhang as handles. Spray foil with cooking spray.
Chop chocolate, and melt with butter in a bowl, over a pot of simmering water. When completely melted remove from heat. Whisk in sugar and vanilla, then the eggs. Continue whisking until smooth and glossy.
Add the dry ingredients (including 'slices' or nuts if using) until just blended. Spread batter evenly in the pan. Bake approximately 40 minutes (or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean). Cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Use foil handles to remove sheet of brownies from the pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut. Serve. Devour.
See you at the markets!
Mo
moira@efete.net
