fhb@hou2f.UUCP (F.BUTLER) (10/24/84)
Two important points made in most replies: 1) the stain contained in the outer husk is very strong, avoid getting on good clothes. 2) the shell is extremely hard and requires a great amount of effort for a small amount of meat. If you feel adventurous like I do here's the beef. To get to the nut, the outer husk must be removed. Most suggested laying the nuts in the driveway and running over them a few times. Others mentioned letting the outer husk dry out and then removing. This contradicted some replies which said rotting would occur if this method was used. I have them spread out in the driveway and am removing the outer husks that way. Once the outer husk is removed, the nut within its shell remains. The nut must be dried. Most suggested placing in a warm spot with good circulation for a couple months. After this, shelling of the nuts can take place. A hammer and nut meat picker is necessary for the task with a great amount of effort required. One reply mentioned a special black walnut cracker found in an ad in Organic Gardening as a much easier method and well worth the money. After shelling, a few replies suggested freezing as the best way to store any nuts that are not used right away. Tim Tierney PS. Anyone with a good recipe for black walnut ice cream?