35 Comments
Oct 6Liked by Lolly Martyn

I have always wanted to make this so when I'm in Italy (I arrive Wednesday!!!) I will find flour and try it out, with fennel, and will report back. Also, those heels! I'm not a heel wearer but if I were, those would be in my shoe repertoire.

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You’re arriving Wednesday, Jo!!! I cannot wait to hear everything and also how it goes with the fennel!! 100% agree. The heels were stunning. I was sitting next to her wearing fluorescent yellow sneakers bc we hiked over 😂

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

Hahah I would be in sneakers too. They make more sense! I will tell you everything!

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I would still be stuck with a heel in between some cobblestones if I’d worn stilettos 😝

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Oct 13Liked by Lolly Martyn

I tried this in the prescribed pan size and they were very thick. Tastes great but will try a half sheet pan next time.

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Interesting! Thank you so much for sharing, Mary. ❤️ I never tried the full recipe. I’ve only ever halved it!

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Oct 13Liked by Lolly Martyn

Grams are great. I like weighing for baking.

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Ok, will do! Xx

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Hi Mary! I checked my measurements this morning for the 1/2 recipe in a 9-inch round. I put 240g of chestnut flour, 50g sugar, and 2 cups of water. I used a mix of 1/2 c of almonds and pinenuts. For whatever reason, it seemed to take longer to cook today so I left it in for about 50 minutes so it turned nice and brown and crunchy almost like a chewy cookie. For me, it's key to sprinkle some sugar on top before baking to maximize the crunch. If you don't like the slightly bitter taste, you can use 90g of sugar and it covers it. I know it's a lot of sugar but just don't eat it all at once. Let me know how it goes! x Lolly

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Oct 16Liked by Lolly Martyn

Waiting for my new shipment of flour. Will let you know.

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Oct 13Liked by Lolly Martyn

Likely that’s the problem. I didn’t read the fine print!

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I’m going to make it again tomorrow and will give you the halved amounts - is grams ok? I just found I have 3 open bags of chestnut flour in my cupboard. All bought in the last month 😂😅🤷‍♀️

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Oct 8Liked by Lolly Martyn

Loved this but it disappears so quickly! Can't imagine who has eaten it all (looks at husband). I was lacking pine nuts so used chopped up hazelnuts (please don't tell your mother in law!) which is very Piedmontese. This will be regular bake here.

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Eek! This makes me so happy!! I'm sure hazelnuts in it are heaven on earth. I made it with almonds I picked up at Terra Madre in Torino! It's a great base for creativity, but using different nuts is still along the lines of tradition as pinenuts have gotten pricey!

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Oct 9Liked by Lolly Martyn

And sometimes replaced with pine nuts from China, which are horrid greasy things.

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Ewww! We always have to look at the provenienza!!!

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Just picking up chestnut flour today. The first time I bought it in a bakery to taste, it gaged me. I was expecting a brownie flavor. Then when I worked as a pastry chef in a vegetarian restaurant in Florence, I became famous for my version. I recently started making mine like a fabulous truck stop near me makes theirs, a little more “dressed up”. I created a muffin for a friend in the USA who was helping her friends business in Michigan selling chestnut flour.

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Judy! I have questions on everything you wrote! The brownie story is a classic. Haha! Is your recipe posted? Dying to try! Who is the Michigan chestnut flour vendor? I’d love to hook up my mom ❤️

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Oh yum! That cake looks and sounds amazing! I encountered chestnut fever in Japan on my visit earlier this month—we had candies and ice cream and saw some fancy cakes but didn’t sample any unfortunately. I would love to try this if I can find some chestnut flour. Lovely pictures, stories and recipe, Lolly!

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Thank you Ruth! I’m so sorry you missed out on the Japanese chestnuts! I’m going to tag Judy in this because she knows a chestnut flour producer in Michigan! Maybe you can order some from them in the US

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

I was at a mushroom fest on Saturday and they had a little fried cake with chestnut paste in the middle. I thought it would be sweet but it actually tasted more savory. The event was up in the mountains of Campania and it was much more fall like than Napoli. I miss fall too.

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Ooooh that is an interesting little tart! I prefer the sweet chestnut things to savory but am making a pilgrimage to try some chestnut gnocchi soon! Maybe they will change my mind… 😉 What do you miss about American fall? ❤️

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

Not sweating! That’s primary. Secondary - boots, tweed, pumpkins, leaves, scarves 😊

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😅 oh dear. I hadn’t thought of that!!!

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

Woah.cheatnut gnocchi?!

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Yes! I have a recipe but I want to eat them first. At a place in a small town in Liguria 😍

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That chestnut cake looks just SO good

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Soooo good! Jo, I was thinking, you should try to catch the lake como Orticolario garden show one of these years! It’s annual, one long weekend at Villa Erba on lake como and is so wonderful. I think you’d love it!

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Oct 6Liked by Lolly Martyn

So there you are! Good to see you, friend! 🤗

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Here I am! Thank you for noticing. 😍 I’m a wee bit overbooked, overworked, and overwhelmed due to some over scheduling. I want to catch up on everything I’ve missed! How are you? Is it finally Canadian autumn? 🍂❤️

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

Oh, I hate that. But, it beats the alternative.

October in Ontario is always really beautiful. Quite warm somewhere around 20C… but a few days it pushes closer to 30 and gets muggy. It will be warm until Halloween. I’d prefer a slightly cooler thanksgiving (next week) al fresco dining is never a bad thing.

How are things in Italy’s north?

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I agree. It’s all good stuff. I can’t wait to read about Canadian t day! It’s chilly and we shouldn’t legally turn on our heat until Oct 15. It went from August to November in a week! Getting into the spirit now it’s October. You have a new post on the prep?

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

The final one is on Wednesday! Then it’s allllll Christmas, baby!! 😁🎄

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Already?!!! hahah ahhhh! You crack me up!!

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Oct 7Liked by Lolly Martyn

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! ✨

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