An old habit by standing armies, is to plant chestnut trees next to their roads. Not only do the trees provide shelter from sun and rain, the chestnuts are a great addition to food supplies during fall. This habit was taken over by some villages, where in the most extreme cases their chestnuts can supply all the staple food they need for half a year.
Unfortunately, chestnut trees do not grow everywhere. So usually only small patches will exist. An added downside is that the trees do offer a chance for predators and robbers to strike, so while a useful food source, they also are a place to be wary of. Nevertheless, they are found in many places, including in the Valley, so serve as a nice food source for a
Scout that wants a bit of extra variation.
Preparation
The easiest way to consume the chestnuts, is by roasting them. Usually this is done on a lying fire with a sturdy cast iron pan. The chestnuts need to have a cross-shape cut into them before covering the bottom of the pan. Without making this cut, steam will stick inside the chestnut, making them dangerous to peel. With a good cut, the steam escapes and they can be peeled more easily afterwards.
The chestnuts should be occasionally stirred, this prevents them from burning. Once they are somewhat brown and the shell begins peeling back around the cross-cut, they can be taken off the fire. Proper tools or heat-proof gloves are recommended for this step. Once cooled down enough, the shells can be peeled back. Roasted chestnuts are often eaten with a pinch of salt for added flavour.
For villagers, sometimes the next step is to let the chestnuts dry out, before grinding them into a flour. This allows for a nice stockpile that is not just healthy, but also decreases the dependency on wheat.
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