Here's the video on removing and cooking with acorns. We've learned that white oaks have little or no tannin, and can be used with just one soaking and rinsing.
The food value of acorns is not to be underestimated. A great way to spend the fall afternoon with the kids, too. A free project.
My Acorn Project video is now available on my channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03
I took all the footage, compiled it with that down home touch hoping to inspire all my friends to check out this cool nut alternative.
While I was up at the picnic site processing these acorns, a nice older couple came by to chat. Turns out she had taught boy scouts back in the day how to use acorns to make pancakes. My whole thing, I told them, was to find ways to use acorns with the simplest of tools and least energy expended. I use these acorns, after processing, like one would use walnuts, pecans, almonds or cooked beans.
Being an experienced cook, I have some preferred methods to create flavor. Sauteing with canola oil and spices creates a product which can be eaten as a garnish or with fried rice. I prefer to use canola oil because it has higher burn point than butter, and contains healthy omega 3 fatty acids which raise our beneficial HDL cholesterol.
By mincing this prepared product we can incorporate acorns into vegetarian burgers or patties and serve with a variety of condiments.
Preparing the acorns with cinnamon and nutmeg instead of savory spices would make an excellent addition to baked goods such as muffins and nut breads.
Some acorns do not require processing. Their tannin levels are so low that they can be eaten raw or cooked in foods. Before processing, taste raw shelled acorns and decide how bitter they are. Then use water to remove bitter tannins as needed.
According to my research, the only animal that can not eat acorns is horses because acorns are toxic to them.
After removing the shells and tannins from acorns fantastic things can happen. I am in the process of creating a total learning video for my channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03
The project last night involved mincing my sauteed, spiced acorns and combining them with other grains to form patties. The actual recipe is :
1 cup minced spiced acorns
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup self-rising cornmeal
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
Mix all ingredient together to form stiff paste. Allow mixture to rest for half an hour. Then, heat 1/4 cup of canola oil in skillet. I prefer a cast iron pan, myself. Form into 4 patties, and fry until crispy brown on each side. I used a cover for just a few minutes to create enough heat for the centers to fully bake as well.
Serve with catsup, or brown mushroom gravy. We had brown rice and garden salads to complete this healthy meal.
This is my plastic "soup" or stew kettle after an overnight backpacking trip. Plastic is found in areas you least expect, along beaches, wilderness trails where hunters have been, and washed up on lake shores.
If a person needed to use a plastic jug as a cooking vessel, they could make one such as this by cutting the neck off, and then making two side holes for suspending the pot with cordage from an overhead branch above the cook fire. The cordage in the photo above was made with plastic as well: walmart grocery bags (see previous post ).
I made the holes in the pot pictured above by using a lit kitchen match. A flaming twig would also work.
Hold the flame near the place you want the hole. As the plastic begins to melt, gently push the match through the plastic. The melting plastic will seal around the hole and strengthen it so it won't crack when weight is placed in the vessel.
I used this pot for 16 hours and although it lost its original shape, it didn't leak. I was able to process my acorns and remove the tannin from them by repeatedly boiling water, draining it and then removing the shells.
Yesterday's post talks about it as well.
After we returned home, I sauteed the sliced acorn meat in a pan with canola oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder until crispy. These were used to garnish fresh garden salad. Wow. I was amazed how deliciously similar to almonds they tasted. We'll definitely do this again.
After supper, I sliced the remaining boiled acorn meat, added salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and sugar and placed them on a sheet pan in the oven. Our oven has a pilot light, and the drying process will seal the spices onto the acorns.
This morning they tasted great, but need more time drying.
We don't use any sugar or honey at our house, so I used an artificial sugar. You could use brown sugar for additional flavor and calories.