I never stopped to think that some people didn't know this trick. Grandpa taught all of us kids and cousins and anyone he could get to sit down for a few minutes to crack them. We finally learned it was because he didn't want to do it. Grandma would have skinned him alive if she knew he was getting help from all the kids. We kept his secret too. One thing that Grandma taught us girls was, if you like them fresh or slightly baked and you keep getting a bitter taste from the skins, is to blanch them for a couple of minutes, put them on a towel and rub gently. The skins will come off easily and they taste so much sweeter.
