While I canned pears on Sunday, Larry had another project: picking black walnut meats from the shells.
He used a hammer and a piece of steel to crack the nuts outside to keep down the mess, then brought them into the log room for the real work. 
Picking nutmeats is tedious, there's no other word for it. But he had National Public Radio to listen to, so from Thistle and Shamrock through Prairie Home Companion and most of Mountain Stage, he picked walnuts and enjoyed the best of entertainment.
The reward--almost 2 pounds of black walnuts, shelled and ready for holiday baking. At today's prices, this is about $32.00 worth of nuts. Considering that it was a blustery cold, snowy day, this was a worthwhile way to spend time.
When he was finished, he came in the kitchen and helped me finish canning the pears. Now that's a good man.
Next, hickory nuts. I've got to try that cake recipe Matthew sent me.
I love black walnuts. I over did it last fall, I think I ended up with around 4 quarts. I didn't get any this year, which I will probably regret, because there might not be any around next year. I don't mind picking the nuts out so much. I just sit in front of the TV and do it.I hate hulling the nuts. What a mess! I sit outside in my husband's overalls and hit them through a hole in a contraption my son put together. The drilled hole is about the size of a walnut, so the hull comes off and the nut falls through to the bottom. No one helps me, though, so if I want walnuts, I have to do it all myself.I got lazy this year and didn't do any.
ReplyDeleteBlack Walnuts are one of my favorite things in life! This year has been good for them!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Larry on the good work! That must be truly tedious - but I think I could get through any tedious task while listening to Thistle and Shamrock and Prairie Home Companion!
ReplyDeleteThat is such hard work, I always dread doing it!
ReplyDeleteBravo, Larry! He is indeed a good man.
ReplyDeleteMy cousins used to be drafted to help grandma with the black walnuts because they lived on her street. Grandma used to put the walnuts in the driveway, and the husks would be loosened by the car driving over them.
I'll look forward to your wisdom on hickory nuts, since I seem to have hickories by my new eco-home. ;-)
Ok, now I feel guilty about not making use of our black walnuts, but neither one of us here care much for them. I think because both of us grew up with mothers who put them in nearly every baked good and candy they made. I guess you could call that black walnut burnout, hm? Truth is, I don't care for nuts of any kind in baked goods...well with one exception, pecan pie. And even then I inevitably leave a few nuts on my plate.
ReplyDeleteI can remember as a kid taking a hammer and trying to break open black walnuts. Wow it was hard work. They sure are good though and I know you are looking forward to doing some cooking with them.
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest a black walnut cake?
ReplyDeleteNow I'm hungry!