Chestnut and Cream Dessert

• 1 lb (450 g) chestnuts
• milk and water
• vanilla pod

Slash the flat side of each chestnut and place in a saucepan. Cover with boiling water, bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes Drain and peel away both the inner and outer skins. Peel the chestnuts as quickly as possible before they cool. Replace the chestnuts in the saucepan and cover with equal parts milk and water. Add the vanilla pod and bring up to the boil. Simmer gently for 20