Dear friends,
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack frost nipping at your nose.....while chestnuts are being remembered famous Christmas songs they are symbolic of holidays just as mistletoe and holly are; however, in Japan, they are on sale in September and are a very popular seasonal ingredient in autumn. Traditional Japanese sweet shops sell various sweets made from chestnuts in September and October. Not only Japanese sweets but also French pastries such as Mont-Blanc are very popular. In the middle of September, my mother always bought the first chestnuts of the season and she cooked the chestnuts with rice on "Respect for the Aged Day." It is one of my favorite autumn dishes that sticky rice mixed with chestnuts. She cooked it for my family, and especially for my grandmother because it was said "life will be prolonged if it is eaten at the first of the season." My grandmother lived to be ninety-six years old. Aside from all superstitions, eating the first of the season is more enjoyable because we feel more gratitude for the harvests of the year.
Yesterday, I finally found the chestnuts at the local supermarket and made traditional Japanese chestnut sweets to enjoy the autumn flavor. Peeling chestnuts is a very tedious process, but I thought about my family memories and savored the beautiful fall season. I wish you all a good season.
All the best,
Kumiko
Edited by Janice Ensminger