Drunken Chestnuts Recipes

Steps:

• SOUP: Over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until the bacon has slightly browned and has started to render its fat. Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook slowly, until soft and translucent. Add the parsnip, potato, chestnuts, thyme, port and red wine and simmer on low heat until it is almost reduced completely. Add the chicken stock and continue to cook until the chestnuts have completely softened, about 30 minutes. Finish with heavy cream, remove the thyme springs and puree in the blender. Strain the soup through a fine sieve and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
• GARNISH: In a large saute pan or nonstick skillet, heat the butter on low. Add the chanterelles, chestnuts, white wine and carrots and cook on low heat until soft, about 7 minutes. Add the chives.
• To serve, place the warm garnish mixture in the center of a warm soup bowl. Sprinkle with celery leaves, and carefully pour the soup around the garnish mixture.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl add the roasted chestnuts, sugar, and rum. Carefully, light the content with a match to flambe the ingredients. Stir continuously to dissolve the sugar. Continue to stir until the rum has reduced to a thick syrup or is caramelized and the flame has died off.
• To make Roasted Chestnuts: Using a sharp paring knife, make a slit on the rounded side of each chestnut. Place the chestnuts on a perforated pan and roast over a fire for 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively cook in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes. Peel the charred shell and serve.