From about September onwards, it's common here to come across families armed with buckets, gloves and long-handled wooden forks wherever there are chestnut trees. Although the French (somewhat confusingly) often refer to them all as marrons, it's the smaller but sweeter and more flavoursome ch?ignes that are commonly used.Both flourish in the south, especially in thickly wooded areas, such as that around La Corr? in (omega) the Limousin region Known as La Ch?igneraie, this is real chestnut country. Originally from West Asia, the sweet chestnut was first introduced to Europe by the Greeks. In France, entire chestnut woods and forests were planted during the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, when the nuts were eaten fresh, dried over fires or made into flour.Although chestnut cultivation in France was largely abandoned at the start of the 20th century, the forests remain and the chestnuts are still used extensively in French cuisine, as an accompaniment to savoury dishes or in desserts such as marrons glac?(crystallised chestnuts).Broadly speaking, there are two varieties - the ch?igne, which has two or three fruits packed together inside its husk, and the marron, which only has a single large fruit. In contrast, the rest of Europe has long valued the versatility of chestnuts, using them in salads or pairing them with chocolate, oranges or cinnamon in puddings. "They're great with all poultry and game," adds Leatham, "or with roast meats, instead of roast potatoes.
Probably better for you, too."Considering that chestnuts have now become so enshrined in our Christmas tradition, it's surprising that few, if in fact any, of those bought in the UK are home-grown Most come from Europe, especially Portugal and France. The Reading fans found their voice and the game reverted to the crazy pace it had started at as both sides sought a winner. A frantic match now had an atmosphere to match and Reading's wide midfielder Glen Little was replaced by John Oster after he lost his cool and picked up a booking.It was Oster who turned the game with a 66th-minute corner for Ivar Ingimarsson to head a powerful winner at the near post. A dejected QPR manager, Ian Holloway, said: "I've got my health and my family, but I'm brassed off and I'm going to go home and ask the big man upstairs why we didn't get a point."We did everything right up to a point, but that free header has ruined my entire weekend. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in this game and this was one of those occasions.".
Crisis, what crisis? Heart of Midlothian's players ignored the off-the-field turmoil that has consumed their club and sent out a declaration of intent as they swept Dundee United aside yesterday. Yet another sell-out 17,000 audience at Tynecastle lapped up a display embellished with flair and three fine goals from Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel and Michel Pospisil. That put the managerless side back at the top of the Scottish Premier League, although Celtic can regain pole position at Falkirk today.. Ten Days That Shook The World was John Reed's classic account of the Russian Revolution. Heart of Midlothian's brave new world has been shaken to the core by its own 10 days of bloodletting. The more celebrated Romanovs, of course, did not manage to stick around to witness the events of 1917 but will there be anyone left at Tynecastle to celebrate with Vladimir Romanov if his team achieve success? In the space of 10 days, Hearts fans lost their manager and their position at the top of the Scottish Premier League.