[Sca-cooks] Walnuts and nut cracking devices

[johnna holloway]

I have read that people leave them in their driveways and drive over 
them to loosen the husks. I can remember as a child sitting on the 
concrete cistern platform (top of the cistern) at my grandparent's and 
cracking them using hammers and screws and other assorted hardware that 
was there. It was always a chore and they stained the hands and clothing 
just from that activity. My books on rural life that might have a 
picture are packed. I wonder of they were milled or run between grinding 
stones in some fashion, but that is a guess.

Johnnae llyn Lewis

Sharon Gordon wrote:

> I am looking for something which does a good job of getting the outer (green
> tennis ball like) shell off a walnut.  Any suggestions?
> 
> For people who like to save the shells for dyeing fabric, is it better to
> freeze them or dry them or ???
> 
> I have a nut cracker that does well for thinner shells.  And I was wondering
> what pre 1600 nut cracking devices and nut picks looked like?
> 
> Sharon
> gordonse at one.net