Rushing through early Thanksgiving shoppers at the grocery store, I spy chestnuts. Growing up in the Northwest, hazelnuts and black walnuts are nuts that get people excited, especially if you know someone with a tree. Chestnuts are foreign to me. Bing Crosby, New Canaan, CT are chestnutty. Today, I'm intrigued. I buy 1 1/2 pounds for $10 and think I'll figure something out for Thanksgiving.

Rabbi Aryeh, mashgiach as I cook turkey, looks at the directions to work with chestnuts. He's thinking what I'm thinking, "What a hassle." Lacking an open fire, we roast them on a sheet pan for 20 minutes at 500'. Shelling them, I wonder that the phrase 'chestnut brain' hasn't gained traction. Sure, a pea is smaller but these look like brains; a couple of hairy ones make me jump. Rabbi walks by and says, "Those look like brains." We're out of our element.

Once sliced, roasted, and shelled, they get simmered for 20 minutes. Then, drained and chopped. Alternately, the directions suggest buying canned chestnuts. Hmm, didn't look for any with a hechsher. There is a certain satisfaction doing something so labor intensive....yet another thing labor intensive.

I read that chestnuts have twice as much starch as potatoes. After simmering, they have a creamy texture, a subtle flavor. Combined with tart Granny Smith apples and a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, a lovely stuffing comes together. I use fluffy challah bread crumbs and golden raisins, along with the requisite celery and onions. So different from my usual stuffing, I like the contrast in textures. Definitely a keeper.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced celery
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 4 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced (about 4 - 5 apples)
• 6 cups challah bread crumbs, light and fluffy
• 1 1/2 pounds chestnuts in shell
• 1 tablespoon salt
• *1 - 2 cups turkey stock

*If you aren't putting the stuffing into the turkey, ladle a little turkey broth over the stuffing before baking in the oven, uncovered.

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Steps:

In a saute pan, melt the margarine. Add the celery and onion. Cook until wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Empty into a bowl and set aside.

Peel the apples and cut away the core. Dice the apples into small pieces. Add to the onion mixture. Trim the outer crust from challah. Tear and place into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to fluffy crumbs. Add to the onion mixture.

Place the raisins in a small bowl. Add a little water and toss to dampen. Drain water not absorbed and add raisins to the mixture. Add remaining ingredients.

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Comments:

Mikey: I found ready to use chestnuts this year at Costco with a hecksher. I think it was Gefen brand. Much easier and still firm, not swimming in liquid. I recommend them.

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