{"id":2919,"date":"2012-12-20T06:00:26","date_gmt":"2012-12-20T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extraordinarybbq.com\/?p=2919"},"modified":"2023-09-27T12:13:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T17:13:05","slug":"a-really-pretty-peppermint-serving-tray-and-roasted-chestnuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extraordinarybbq.com\/a-really-pretty-peppermint-serving-tray-and-roasted-chestnuts\/","title":{"rendered":"A really pretty peppermint serving tray! And…Roasted Chestnuts."},"content":{"rendered":"

Talk. About. A. Disaster.<\/p>\n

Seriously. \u00a0When we came up with the idea to make roasted chestnuts, we were so proud of ourselves. \u00a0PERFECT! \u00a0It’s Christmasy, it’s a dessert, it’s just fun all around. And I found this cool peppermint serving tray on Pinterest I wanted to make. \u00a0A win win.<\/p>\n

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However, we did NOT know what we were getting ourselves into. \u00a0I highly recommend NOT following this recipe. \u00a0In fact, I may not even give you the actual recipe, just because I’m that adamant that you should not do it. \u00a0 But I do think you need to hear the story behind these horrid little suckers. \u00a0But look at the pretty peppermint tray! \u00a0It’s so pretty!<\/p>\n

First of all, chestnuts feel weird. \u00a0They are all pliable and bendy – not at all like a normal REAL nut. \u00a0We cut an X on each of the chestnuts – that’s right. \u00a0Each one. \u00a0It took forever. \u00a0And I still wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. \u00a0I’m pretty sure I didn’t. \u00a0It was all down hill from there.<\/p>\n

The directions we found said to roast the nuts just like we’re doing – on the grill, stirring frequently. \u00a0These bad boys burn quick. \u00a0Anyway, we turned these things like crazy, but they still got dark. \u00a0Very dark. \u00a0The instructions on how to break this guys open were fairly unclear, except in timing. \u00a0They said to handle while they were warm, but not warm enough to burn you. \u00a0So we waited a while, staring at them, then dug in. \u00a0This was not an easy task. \u00a0The shells don’t just pop open. \u00a0You have to peel and prod and bang and tear…and then you get a tiny sliver off. \u00a0After you get the first layer off there’s this gross hair stuff – bleh.<\/p>\n

So….I figured if we cover it in chocolate, maybe the hair would just go away?<\/p>\n

That didn’t work. \u00a0Not to mention the nuts were hard. \u00a0And just kind of gross. \u00a0Thank God there was chocolate.<\/p>\n

BUT…look at my pretty peppermint dish! I guess this experiment wasn’t a complete fail, because I’m so making more of these trays – I think I might even try making different shaped ones and bowls. \u00a0Screw the chestnuts. \u00a0Give me the peppermints.<\/p>\n

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\"Chocolate