A crate filled with foods such as chestnuts for roasting and bright-orange clementines makes a wonderful gift for the hosts of a winter party. When wrapped in cellophane and embellished with a ribbon and gift tag, this gift looks like it came off the shelves of a gourmet-food store. The cellophane adds a sophisticated touch and complements the earthy tones of the chestnuts and the sparkling jewel tones of the clementines.
Clementines can be stored in a cool place in your kitchen for a couple of days and they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Select clementines that are firm and heavy for their size. You might notice that some clementines might contain rough brownish areas called russet. Russeting affects neither flavor nor quality. Slight green areas, which sometimes appear in fully ripe oranges, is fine, too. But check the fruit for any soggy spots or moldy areas; avoid any that contain any signs of mold.
Fresh chestnuts are contained in spiky husks, called burrs. Most of these burrs house three nuts inside them. A hard, reddish-brown membrance, called the pericarp, protects the nut. Choose chestnuts that are hard and heavy for their size, with tight, glossy shells. Peeled chestnuts should be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Store fresh unpeeled chestnuts at room temperature for up to a week or refrigerate them in a perforated plastic bag for up to one month.
TECHNIQUE
Making a Clementine Hostess Gift
Materials:
- 1 crate fresh clementines
- 2 pounds chestnuts in shells
- 2 pieces smooth plywood, cut to dimensions of 11 1/4 by 3 1/2 inches
- Clear cellophane wrap
- Double-stick tape
- Ribbon, approximately 1 to 2 inches wide
- Gift tag
- Waxed linen twine
- Index card or recipe card
- Single-hole punch
Directions:
- Remove clementines from the crate. Place five clementines in a single row back into the crate aligning them along one of the long sides of the crate. Repeat on the opposite side.
- Place one piece of plywood along each row of oranges to create an empty space between the rows of oranges. Place chestnuts in the space.
- Cut a piece of cellophane to wrap around the width of the crate. Use double-stick tape to attach cellophane to the underside of the crate. Tie a wide ribbon around the crate. Attach a gift tag.
- Include the recipe for roasted chestnuts (recipe follows). Print out the instructions below on heavy paper and cut the instructions to recipe-card size. Punch a hole at the top left of the card and attach the card to the package with waxed linen twine.
Roasted Chestnuts
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds chestnuts in shells
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Scribe an X in the bottom of each chestnut to allow the steam to escape as the chestnuts are roasting.
- Spread chestnuts on baking sheet and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. When chestnuts are cool enough to handle, peel off the skin with your fingers.
SOURCES
Brown gingham ribbon
Masterstroke Toronto, Canada 416-751-4193 Fax: 416-751-1493 Mastestroke does accept mail orders.
Michael Vyskocil - Michael Vyskocil has been a feature writer for Recipes on Suite101.com since 2006. He currently serves as the Topic Editor for Recipes.
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