Acorns!

theshadypeach · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 13, 2004 Posts: 121

I recently remembered that I have 4 'adult' oak trees in my backyard which could be used as a source of food. I'm sorta kicking myself for overlooking acorns as a food source Embarassed

.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone knew how to properly cook acorns. I know that raw, they cause stomach problems and are poisonous. Also, does anyone know any good recipes with acorns? Very Happy

Many thanks.
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clv101 · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:50 am Post subject:

Good thing to do with Acorns is to feed them to a pig. Acorn fed pork is fantastic. Hardly efficient from a calorie point of view but even post peak we still need luxuries like a communal spit roast every few months.
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Raxozanne · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:51 am Post subject:

yeah I watched this nature programme and pigs eat acrons but don't fee them to ponies or the ponies will die. Dunno about humans tho sorry.

JR · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:53 am Post subject: Here you go!

Grandpappy's Basic Recipes
Acorn Information, Identification, Processing, and Recipes
Copyright Â© 1976,2004 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

History of the Common, Ordinary Acorn

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The common, ordinary acorn is one of the ancient foods of mankind. The first mention of acorns for human consumption was by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. Over the course of human history it has been estimated that people have eaten more acorns than both wheat and rice combined. The acorn has served as an important famine food for many centuries.
Native American Indian tribes all across North America, such as the Cherokee, Pima, and Apache, used acorns as one of their primary staple foods in the same way they used corn. American Indians understood the food value of the acorn and how to prepare it for human consumption. Some Indian tribes would bury their acorns in the mud for many days and then dig them up and dry them in the sun. Other Indian tribes would put their acorns inside a reed basket with a few heavy rocks and then put the basket in a fast moving stream for several days. Both of these methods removed the tannin in the acorns and made them fit for people to eat. There is now an easier, more scientific method and it will be described in detail as you continue to read.
Acorn Facts

One tall mature oak tree can produce almost one-thousand pounds of acorns in one growing season during normal weather conditions. Acorns have a low sugar content and therefore help control blood sugar levels. They have a sweet nutty aftertaste. Acorn meal may be used in bread and stew recipes, substituting about one-fourth of the flour with acorn meal. Since it is a natural sweetener, reduce any other sweeteners in the recipe by one-fourth. Acorn grits can be used in place of nuts in cookie, brownie, and bread recipes. Acorns are a reliable source of carbohydrates, protein, 6 vitamins, 8 minerals, and 18 amino acids, and they are lower in fat than most other nuts. One handful of acorns is equivalent in nutrition to a pound of fresh hamburger.
Oak Trees

{copyright concern is valid. go to link below; EE}

JR · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:54 am Post subject:

Sorry so long. I've found this awhile ago and downloaded it into my computer. Hope it helps!

I just realized the above is copywritten? Is it OK to post this? I cannot find the link the website. I've had this for awhile.

If it's wrong....please mods.....delete the above!

Jodi

JR · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:58 am Post subject:

Ok....found the link:

acorn preparation

Ebyss · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:16 am Post subject:

Thanks for that JR, brilliant article. I have a few oak trees aswell, so it's great to know there's a good use for all those acorns. Just thought I'd echo that acorns are poisonous to horses.
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erl · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 21, 2005 Posts: 790

For those of you without oak trees. They are very easy to propagate, just plant an acorn. Although the books say it may take twenty years to produce fruit, I have had English Oaks (Quercus robur) produce acorns in as little as five years with an increasing crop every year thereafter.

clv101 · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject:

This is sitting on my windowsill right now:

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"Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen." The Emperor (Return of the Jedi)
The Oil Drum: Europe

erl · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 21, 2005 Posts: 790

Funny, that looks just like an English Oak.

Beautiful. Congratulations.

Erl.

EnviroEngr · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject: Reply from Professor Atkins

JR,

I rcv'd a kind and felicitous reply for you from Professor Atkins:

uNkNowN ElEmEnt · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject:

Did anyone see the Squirrel Stew recipe? might come in handy for us city slickers! Very Happy

EnviroEngr · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:56 am Post subject: Acorns

Here is our live archive link:
http://www.peakoil.com/Documents/Grandpappys-Acorn-Facts.mht

Darn thing is bridling at that little acorn at the top. But, otherwise, we've got it all.
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