The Bend is Nigh! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rum

Who could not be tempted by the Cucumis sativus? Did you know the cucumber is 90% water? Rum was hiding out in "...whetheR UMbrella-wielding pirates..."

Answer: Cure

Research suggests that the juice of the cucumber has benefits in treating hyperacidity in the stomach and duodenal ulcers. Go cucumber! The CURE was found in "...guard a mangy CUR. Eating cucumber sandwiches..."

Answer: Curse

Would you believe cucumbers have a history of being used in folk magic? It is said that a woman who discovers that her husband has been unfaithful can use the cucumber to place a powerful curse on him. Carving his name and date of birth into the cucumber and hiding it in the freezer is thought to prevent the man from being able to perform intimately. To break the curse, the cucumber must be buried in the ground under a full moon. Hmm, sounds like a lot of work to me. CURSE was a tricky one to find, "...pirate ocCURS Every time..."

Answer: Scrum

Cucumbers might not resemble Rugby balls but other members of the cucurbits family, like the gourds and melons, sure can. Breakfast items hid the next word, "...bacon, eggS, CRUMpets, tomatoes, and cucumber-flavored pancakes..."

Scrum is a term used in Rugby.

Answer: Scrub

Cucumbers are used in facial scrubs because of their hydrating and astringent properties. Its beauty secret lies in a similar pH to the skin which helps restore and nourish. SCRUB was hiding in the second sentence, "...slipping a diSC, RUB cucumber ointment..."

Answer: Cubes

Did you know that cucumber ice cubes are a refreshing and novel way to enjoy this vegetable? Some trendy bars even freeze small slices of cucumber in their ice cubes before serving them in drinks. Successful seekers located CUBES at the end of the sentence, "...and Copper (CU) BESt."

Answer: Emu

Are you afflicted with puffy eyes and wrinkles that just don't want to quit? Do not fear, the cosmetics industry regularly combines emu oil from the fat of Australia's flightless bird with cucumber in order to keep wrinkly faces feeling more youthful. The "hornpipE MUsician" disguised the flightless bird.

Answer: Crumb

CRUMB was lurking in the dances, "Polka, Tango, CeroC, RUMBa, Charleston, and the occasional Cucumber Slide." By the way, did you know that the average cucumber has only 45 calories and is packed full of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, and absolutely no fat? Here is a recipe, from my Grandma's Rolodex of "Quick Fixins," for my favorite stuffed cucumbers using bread crumbs:

2 cucumbers
1/2 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
1 egg
Spaghetti Sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Crushed garlic
Shredded cheese(enough crumbled to cover)

Cut the peeled cucumbers in half along their length and scrape away the seeds with a spoon. Mix up the meat, garlic, egg, and bread crumbs and place in the cucumbers. Pour sauce over the cucumbers and sprinkle cheese on top. Cover and heat on medium heat in the oven.

Answer: Umber

UMBER is a natural brown color and a pigment that contains iron and manganese oxides. It is found within the fruit bowl above, "...an orange, a plUM, BERries, bananas and grapes." The humble cucumber has also been used to create a natural green dye. Cucumber pigment has been successfully used to color soaps, candles, and material.

Answer: Curb

CURB appears in the "...chaotiC URBan towns they live in." Do you now have an insatiable urge to eat? Would you be glad to know that there is a vegetable that can "curb" that inexhaustible appetite of yours? You guessed it, yes there is and its name -- CUCUMBER! As an appetite suppressant the cucumber has few matches. Hospitals in India have long used the cucumber to help patients with over-eating disorders.