We finally found our house in the country, and it is surrounded by trees. Some are black walnut, which I am familiar with, but the seller told me that others were butternut trees. And now these oblong nuts covered with resin of some sort are falling from the skies around me. Incidentally, I have had other people tell me there is no such thing as a butternut, that it is just a funny shaped walnut. So...my question is, what to do with them? I assume I should treat them like black walnuts. Is that correct? Also, what's the best way to get either black walnut or butternut meats out in intact halves? Thanks for your help. And wear a helmet if you come to visit me, these things are raining down! :-)

-- Lori Price (klnprice@yahoo.com), July 07, 2000

Answers

Yes, indeed, there is a buttercup. It is a relative of the walnut. Seeds/nuts probably look like small walnuts. Nuts are edible.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 07, 2000.

Oops, should have said butternut, not buttercap.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 07, 2000.

Watch out for any of your critters around the Black Walnut trees:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant45.htm

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 07, 2000.

Butternuts are also called white walnuts. Blight has been a problem with Butternuts. If you do't want butternut tree popping up all over the place pick up the seed/nuts when they fall. They spout easily. early this year I saw someone selling butternut seedling for $4.00 each. The wood is very good to carve. Enjoy your butternut tree.

-- Rich (pntbeldyk@wirefire.com), July 08, 2000.

We were given many butternuts one year and boy did we have fun! Set them out to dry, (we did ours up high in our granary) and store them with the skins. When you're ready to eat them remove the skins and get a hammer :o) There is a pointy end and set that into your pounding table, (not a piece of furniture or anything that's needed for anything but fire wood) then hit the sticking up end with the hammer. If you're lucky the shell might split right in half and if you're not it might shatter completely. Oh yes! Don't do this in your parlor or anything, because it's a little messy. Outside on the porch is the best place :o) I love the taste of butternuts! We have a friend who is a wonderful, self-taught, gourmet cook, (and mother of six). She was also given butternuts and although I did not taste it many good things were said about a butternut sauce of some sort. You may be able to find one, which would stretch your butternuts farther. Happy cracking!

-- Abigail F. (treeoflife@sws.nb.ca), July 11, 2000.