Black Walnuts

[kristi]

The mushrooming may not be going well this summer, but I picked up several pounds of black walnuts today. I would guess that what I picked up will probably yield about 1-1 1/2 pounds after they are shelled. Hopefully, I can find some more trees that aren't on private property.

[tvacao]

How are the walnuts? I have a tree at my house but the squirrels tend to beat me to them.

[kristi]

These need to dry and cure for 4-8 weeks before they can be eaten but I have had black walnuts before and I love them. They have a rather strong, different flavor that people tend to either love or hate.

[deerslayer]

If you are into making ice cream, add finely chopped black walnuts to a vanilla recipe- delicious!

[kristi]

I haven't made ice cream in ages but I think I'll have to give that a try!

[gramacrocodile]

Is it best to let the walnuts dry in the husk 1st, or remove the husk right away? My father used to get a handful here and there, and let them dry in husk, but mine got some mold on them doing it this way. I was thinking that removal of the husk would help them dry, plus take up less space. We happily found some trees in our woods and picked up 5 buckets worth yesterday.
We also have a shell bark hickory, but the squirrels have beat me to most of those. Last year I got exactly 1 nut! This year though I have a lunch bag full waiting to be cracked.

[deerslayer]

I let them dry in the husk, but be sure to lay them out in a DRY area in a single layer with good ventilation. Too much humidity and they will rot or get full of maggots. MUCH easier to remove the husk when it is dry. Cracking and removing meats- there;s the real chore, but a good project on a cold winter night. I use a vise and a nut pick.

Butternuts are even better, but have not seen one in a long time...... :-(

[gramacrocodile]

Thanks Deerslayer for the tips. What I ended up putting a single layer in a 5 gallon bucket, then smashing them with a 2x4. Wearing gloves, the husks came off really easy. Then I washed off the nuts with a hose and laid them in the sun to dry on an old sheet. Now they are on a rack of sorts, balanced on the wheelbarrow. Whenever there is a nice breeze and no rain, they get wheeled out into the sun.
Can't say I am looking forward to the cracking part of it.

[deerslayer]

That sounds like a good method to me! I've also used the hulls to dye traps, produced a nice color.

[gramacrocodile]

Well, Deerslayer, I must admit I was sick of seeing that you were the last to post - as it was a reminder to me that I had a crate of walnuts in the garage!
Yesterday, (Sunday) we decided to tackle them. The vise worked the best. Of course, had to just try a few other things too. So far, I have 3 deli meat tubs of nut meats in the freezer, and a lot more to go! I've been limiting my baking now that propane costs are so high, so I think these will last pretty long.
Thanks again for the cracking advice.

[deerslayer]

Glad that I was able to jog your memory about a good use of long, cold winter nights- as well a spark a little life into a dead board. Those walnuts don't give up their treasure easy, but they sure are tasty when they do. If you don't want to bake, toss a few into a Waldorf salad. Enjoy!

[gramacrocodile]

The walnut project is complete! Ended up with just about 6 pounds. Could have been more, but nibbling/quality control must take place! Thinking about a walnut pancake to go with the maple syrup when the warm weather gets here. Looking forward to tapping and boiling, then morel season! Eating some morels in spaghetti sauce tonight that I had dehydrated. Sooo,,, worth the wet feet hunting in the rain last year.