One of the things I love best about winter 
is cooking. In summer I don’t cook or bake very much because having the oven on during hot weather can make the house unbearable and I enjoy eating a lot of raw fruit and vegetables anyway. However now its a little colder, I’m having fun baking 
and cooking a hot dinner every night!
Today I roasted some chestnuts that Claire brought me (thank you!) they were delicious and warming, a great comfort food. They taste a little bit like sweet potato but with a nuttier, meat like taste aswell. Quite filling! Here is a quick guide to roasting chestnuts at home.
Choose chestnuts that are firm and not too dark, soft ones are likely to be rotten. If the nut flesh is a pale grey colour when you shell it, then its too old. It should be a warm yellow colour inside.
Wash the Chestnuts and use a sharp knife to score an ‘X’ in one side. Preheat your oven to 220C or 425F and roast the nuts for about 15 minutes.
When they are cool enough to touch, peel back from the little ‘X’ and take off both the firm outer shell and the furry inner shell. I find using a butter knife makes this process easier. Inside you will find the flesh of the nut, you might like to season it with a bit of salt. Enjoy!
I also bought a Recipe Journal today, to start recording my recipes in. 
I couldn’t resist the cute little cupcakes and birds on this one! Every page is pink and has lines for ingredients, method and notes. I hope to share more of my recipes over the coming months, although I don’t make sweets and desserts all the time, I do cook a lot of japanese dishes 
and other healthy meals. Would you be interested in recipes and photos of some of those?
May 10th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Yes! definitely interested! =)
So cute recipe journal!!
May 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I tried Chestnuts, they sell them in the market sometimes. You can get a small bag for a pound.
I like small quick recipes, like this one.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Your recipe journal is just adorable!! I love pretty books/notebooks like this. ^^
I’m definitely interested in recipes!! I’d like to cook more than I do.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Oh yay you found it! ^^
May 10th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I’d love to hear some japanese dishes ^^
I enjoy to cook these myself and have a lot of recipe books about asian food!
Your recipe journal is really cute! It has pretty colors :)
May 10th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
oh yes it would be sweet to have some yummy healthy reciepes! I love roasted chestnuts too^^
May 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I’m looking forward to your japanese recipes! I love to cook, especially exotic dishes.
Your notebook is adorable ^^.
By the way, I got your letter (so sweet!) I will be answering it shortly!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Hello Princess
i love japanese dishes!!! you have any easy sweet recipe.
… i love cook … at this time in unites states start the hot days… i think the same with you to the oven in the summer…
have a wonderful magic winter day !!! i love the snow in Charlotte NC snow 1 or 3 times in the winter and i really enjoy those day ….
lovely Princess web page
May 11th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I’d love hearing about recipes. I want to be a pastry chef when I’m older (perhaps with my own bakery!). I love cooking and baking with a passion. :D
What an adorable recipe journal! The cupcakes are so cute.
I myself have a recipe binder that holds cards. I’ve found a few websites that you can make typed-up cards on, and I mostly use them. I’m looking into buying cards that you write on, since I’ve found some very cute ones (like these) lately.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:31 am
I’d be interested in some simple ones like this, I could use some new ideas ^_^
Your journal is so cute!
May 11th, 2008 at 2:02 am
What a brilliant idea! I never thought of making my own little recipe book. And now that i’m moving out, it’ll come plenty handy.
I’m definitely interested in any sort of dishes. Once can’t only live off sweets!
May 11th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Mmm, I love chestnuts! I just ate a chocolate bar with some in it a few minutes ago, actually. ^^
Your recipe book is adorable! ♥ I would love it if you posted more recipes on on Princess Portal; baking and cooking (especially ‘healthy’ cooking) are definitely hobbies of mine.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I would love to see some of your recipes! I cook a good deal of Japanese food myself, as well as Indian and Mexican. I love to see how others prepare the same types of foods that I make, and try it their way too!
May 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I’d love for you to post your recipes! Please do, Princess!
May 11th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
May 12th, 2008 at 1:24 am
I wouldn’t mind seeing those either! And some vegetarian friendly ones too please! :3
May 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I agree with Miss Haley! I always have trouble with recipes for that reason.
♥
May 14th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Though I am not a fan of chestnuts, my friends just adore them, (to the two entries above, some of my friends are vegetarians as well, so this recipe comes in handy when I need a gift to give to one of them!)
I would adore recipes! I can’t wait till you post some more on here.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Yes, I would love to see some more recipes!
I also wanted to say that I really liked your picture story you did a loooooooong time ago- the one with you baking a pie. It was cute!