I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.

It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.

http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm

And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.

On Sat 20 Dec 2008 01:49:42p, Mark Thorson told us...

> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>
> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>
> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>
> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.
>

Really enjoying chestnuts has a lot to do on how they are prepared and
used. I'm not particularly fond of them simply roasted and eaten. They
are rather bland, starchy, and slightly sweet, as you said.

What I prefer, once they've been either steamed or roasted, is letting them
cool, then sautéing them in butter until golden and serving them mixed with
crisp tender sautéed Brussels sprouts. Small pieces of them are an
essential ingredient in making Nesselrode. Spiced chestnut ravioli are
also rather good. There are other uses, but I can't think of them off the
top of my head.

Plebe

"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>
> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>
> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>
> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.

Thank you, Mark. I have a few of his albums, too.

Ken Kozak

kenkozak wrote on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:39:31 -0800:


> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>>
>> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
>> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
>> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>>
>> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>>
>> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
>> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
>> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
>> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
>> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
>> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.

> Thank you, Mark. I have a few of his albums, too.

I'd contest that chestnuts are blah. I have childhood memories of
enjoying them bought from street vendors who roasted them on a metal
plate over glowing charcoal. I think the only condiment available was
salt.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:
> kenkozak wrote on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:39:31 -0800:
>
>
>> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>>>
>>> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
>>> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
>>> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>>>
>>> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>>>
>>> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
>>> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
>>> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
>>> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
>>> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
>>> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.
>
>> Thank you, Mark. I have a few of his albums, too.
>
> I'd contest that chestnuts are blah. I have childhood memories of
> enjoying them bought from street vendors who roasted them on a metal
> plate over glowing charcoal. I think the only condiment available was salt.
>

I have never had them here from street vendors but they are a common
street vendor item in Japan and Korea where I always bought them.

George wrote on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:39:33 -0500:

> James Silverton wrote:
>> kenkozak wrote on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:39:31 -0800:
>>
>>> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>>>>
>>>> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
>>>> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
>>>> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>>>>
>>>> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
>>>> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
>>>> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
>>>> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
>>>> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
>>>> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.
>>
>>> Thank you, Mark. I have a few of his albums, too.
>>
>> I'd contest that chestnuts are blah. I have childhood
>> memories of enjoying them bought from street vendors who
>> roasted them on a metal plate over glowing charcoal. I think
>> the only condiment available was salt.
>>
>I have never had them here from street vendors but they are a common
>street vendor item in Japan and Korea where I always bought them.

My memories are of buying them on the street in Leeds, Enngland.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Well, SO and I did a pan full this eve.

In the convec, no less. Over done a bit, I'd say.

What the Hell? They were a bit bland, the meat
did not separate from the inner shell ( beware you
IBS types) but he taste was sorta OK. When SO and
I were in BudaPest last October, we bought these from
a street vendor. Ah, Lord, perfection!

I grew up hating thiese things because ma mere always
boiled them. Worse than boiled Swedes, FCS!

Now then.Can we get decent chestnuts in the States?
My produce mgr admits he had not idea what to do with
them, except they look nice in a centerpiece.

PFAH! Where is a decent produce man when you need him?

Beautiful name brand cabbages turned out to be infected with
bacterial rot inside. Lost 1/2 off the weight to rot.

That said, another batch of kraut is in the crock. Last
batch turned yellow and smelled like something I could
not put here, in all probablity. It was *offensive*!

FWIW: Used Cuisinart slice blade 2 mm. Bad batch
I used 4mm, with S/S basket over the top

Alex





On Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:49:42 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:


>And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
>reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
>And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
>except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
>Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
>this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> I've posted this before, but I can't resist doing it again.
>
> It's a link to a great Christmas story about Mel Torme,
> the guy who co-wrote the famous Christmas song for whom
> every chestnut orchardist owes about 90% of his income.
>
> http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL245.htm
>
> And as I've said before, chestnuts are blah. The main
> reason anybody buys them is because of this song.
> And then they find out they're starchy like a potato,
> except a little bit firmer and a little sweet.
> Definitely not a repeat buy, until you've forgotten
> this, and the song jogs you to buy them again.

They aren't some sickly sweet thing. They have a unique taste when
roasted. I happen to enjoy them and just picked up a couple pounds the
other day.

They are also popular in Japan and Korea and I bet they never even heard
the song.

On Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:38:25 -0500, George >
wrote:

>They aren't some sickly sweet thing.

Actually, they taste remarkably similar to fresh dirt. Not my
favortie...but I am glad that you can enjoy the flavor. But then
again...I don't like lamb either!! <vbg>