Hazelnuts

[Nicos]

I'm expecting a bumper crop of hazelnuts this year and have no idea what to do with them!!
Any ideas please?????

[Sue]

Nicos
You could dry them and then keep them in the freezer to use in recipes throughout the winter. I then use them mostly to make vegetarian scotch eggs or to add to a crumble topping for a veg crumble.
You'd need a dehydrator to do this, a few good films to watch while you're shelling nuts and a big bag for the shells and shell covering to transport to the allotment for mulch.
And PS, I got 4 nice hazel seedlings from my mulch which I planted up and they're doing nicely, think they must have come from weeviled nuts.
Sue

[Nicos]

Any recipies Sue??..Still got about 8lb of last years to eat up yet!!

[Sue]

Nicos
Not a vegetarian then?
You could try dipping them in chocolate, one of the suppliers at the farmers market does this, they are delicious.
I didn't have nearly this many so as I say used them up mostly making nut roasts, veg scotch eggs or crumbles, biscuits etc.
Have had a look on Amazon and there are a few books, a good one to start might be the Australian Woman's Weekly book Dried Fruit and Nuts. Might get one myself in anticipation.
best wishes
Sue

[Nicos]

Ok so now I have 7lb of last years and 4 bucketfuls of this years!!!

I prefer the sweeter flavour of last years-, although they are now starting to dry up a bit.
Should I leave the new ones a few months before doing anything with them or can I roast them now??

How do you roast them??? and then do I put them in an airtight container or are they better frozen????

Need some help with this one folks- I don't want them to go to waste.....

I intend to put the nut book on my Xmas pressie list!!- Thanks

[mrs potato head]

You can roast them straight away. Or De-shell tham now and freeze them fresh.
This way they are good to cook with, Fresh C'nuts are good for making Stuffing with, Puree or Pate, c'nut and Parsnip roast is fab. Choc Brownies etc...
Another method is just storing them in a dry cool place, the store naturally for ages - Squirrels do it every year!!!