Best In Show Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wrap dough in tea towel and submerge in water

The winning entry was submitted by Theodora Smafield of Illinois and showcased a unique method of letting dough rise which began back in the Victorian time period. After the soft dough is made it is tied up tightly in a tea towel and placed in a bucket of water.

When the dough has risen, the bundle will float to the surface due to the trapped air. This method allowed bakers to control the rising on hot days and for them to keep an eye on the progress of the dough. Once the dough is ready, the recipe calls for the cinnamon sugar mix to be applied, the dough to be twisted, and baked.

The result is a delicious bread that required a unique method of rising and no kneading.

Answer: Outer layer of the peel

Orange zest is the output of scraping the outermost layer of the orange's peel. After the orange is washed, the zest can be obtained by scraping the fruit with such things as a grater, a peeler, or a knife. The zest can be used in sweet dishes as the "Ring-a-Lings" made by Bertha Jorgensen, added to savory dishes, or be placed as a pretty garnish. One medium orange can furnish 3 to 4 teaspoons of zest and this ingredient can then be stored in the freezer for future use.

Answer: Caramel

Caramel is a candy that is made by heating sugar slowly until it forms a golden brown color and mixing it with cream and other ingredients. It then obtains a thick, chewy consistency. It can be made at home or bought in prepackaged form (as is called for in the apple pie recipe submitted by Julia Smogor of Iowa). Caramel can be eaten alone, made into a sauce, or act as a coating for such treats as caramel apples.

Answer: False

The pound cake recipe originates from the 1700s and gets its name due to the fact it called for one pound EACH of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. Over the years, all kinds of different flavorings have been added from chocolate to cinnamon to the lemon utilized by Phyllis Lidert in her winning entry. Today, it is acceptable to call a dessert a pound cake if the ratio of those four main ingredients is 1:1:1:1 even if the total is not 4 pounds which helps bakers make less calorie-heavy cakes.

Answer: It expands then melts away into the roll

There is a scientific explanation behind the fact that the marshmallow expands in the oven and then melts, or disappears, into the roll. Marshmallows are basically sugar and water with air bubbles inside. In the oven, the gas molecules within the air bubbles move and push against the soft marshmallow walls and keep expanding until the air bubbles burst.

When they finally break, the marshmallow deflates and melts into the surrounding crescent roll. Edna Walker's recipe proves that it can be a delicious surprise to find a sweet, but empty, dessert upon eating.

Answer: Shoofly pie

Shoofly pies are identified with the Pennsylvania Dutch baking of the Amish country in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It has a molasses-based gooey bottom layer with a crumb topping. The origin of the name is hotly debated and ranges from the fact cooks had to "shoo" flies away from the treat to a derivation of the French term "soufflé" to a brand of molasses called "Shoofly". Regardless of the history, it was the model for the winning pie from Gladys Fulton of South Carolina that also had the added ingredients of sour cream and applesauce.

Answer: France

Bonbons originated from the French royal court in the 1600s and the word "bon" in their name literally means "good" in the French language. Bonbons are candies covered with chocolate. The interior can be a piece of candy, a type of buttercream, a sugary fruit, or a chewy nougat and the bonbon is covered with a chocolate shell.

This interior is what makes a bonbon, like the ones created by winning amateur Mary Tyndall, differ from a truffle that is filled only with a thick, heavy cream.

Answer: Hard part of wheat grain

Couscous is a staple food in North Africa and is made form the hard parts of the wheat grain called semolina. When wheat is ground, it breaks into multiple parts and the semolina is the section that resists the grinding. It is gathered and tossed with finer flour and water to form little round balls. Couscous can be purchased in a supermarket and made similarly to rice and served as part of a soup or stew. Ellie Mathews of Washington used this great source of protein and fiber in that manner but it can also be used as a salad, in a dessert, or as a standalone side dish.

Answer: Waffle

A waffle is made from batter that is poured into a hot waffle iron which produces a patterned food that is crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. They are then served warm with toppings like fruit, syrup, and butter. Waffles can be made at home or can be bought already made in the frozen section of a supermarket.

This winning recipe created by Anna Ginsberg calls for the waffle to be broken up and added to butter, onions, sage, and spinach for a savory stuffing.

Answer: Cinnamon

A large percentage of the world's cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka where it is harvested from the inner bark of trees. When the bark is dried it curls into quills which are then cut or crushed into powder. Cinnamon was used in ancient times and was discovered by Portuguese traders in the 1500s who quickly began introducing it to the rest of the world. Today, this spice is utilized in everything from baking (as in the cookie recipe by Carolyn Gurtz) to beauty products to health remedies.