make them easier to peel and then, perhaps, they roast them later. but we are the lucky few with wood-fired ovens.
make an x-cut on the round side of the chestnut with a small, sharp knife.
place them on a pizza pan or wood fired oven-safe dish and put them in a medium-hot oven, about 500°f.
roasting will only take about 7-8 minutes. (depending on the age of the chestnut, and the heat of the oven, it may take longer.) the shell and skin of the nuts will pop open and curl back. i like roasting chestnuts in the oven long enough so there is some roasted color on part of the nut.
once 