Thematic Kitchen Items Trivia

1. What did Percy Spencer invent in 1945?

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: Microwave oven

Percy Spencer (1894-1970) worked as a radio engineer with Raytheon on developing radar tubes. One day late 1945 he noticed that a candy bar in his pocket had melted while he was examining an operating radar installation. After a few experiments, he decided to generate microwaves within a sealed metal container, and concluded these waves made various foods cook at extremely high speed. Spencer commercialized the first microwave ovens in 1945, but as these were gigantic and high-priced, it was not an instant success. Only the table-top models developed in the seventies proved commercially interesting, and these conquered the residential market in North America, Japan and Europe quite swiftly. Chocolate fountain machines were invented in the nineties. Sliced bread was invented by Otto Rohwedder in 1912. And the pepper mill was probably invented by Peugeot in 1842.

From Quiz Serving Size: 1 Can

Answer: Use it for home composting

Set up your own home composting wormery. Take one can of worms, place them into the wormery container, feed with compostable materials, and collect organic compost out of the other end of the device. All this does is mimic what worms do naturally in your garden, but there is a knack to creating a successful worm colony. The worm population will double every two to three months, and it is important not to overfeed or you will kill them. The odd gourmet treat can be added; for worms these are nettles, liquid seaweed and the occasional handful of garden soil.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: teapot

I'm a little teapot, short and stout. Here is my handle, here is my spout. I got to know this song very well when my children were young and used to watch "Play School" on telly.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: Melitta Bentz

While all of these names relate to coffee, it was Melitta Bentz who invented the paper coffee filter bag. Bentz was born as Amalie Auguste Melitta Liebscher in Dresden in 1873. After her marriage to Hugo Bentz, she became a housewife. Coffee was made around 1900 in different ways. Percolators tended to overheat the coffee, and espresso machines were known to leave traces of the ground beans in the cup. So the best cup (according to Hugo Bentz) was made by pouring nearly boiling water over freshly ground coffee beans, and letting the coffee seep through a linen bag. Alas, Melitta found cleaning the linen bags too cumbersome. So she started experimenting with cheap disposable coffee filter bags, and ended up using blotted paper. In 1908 Melitta patented her invention and started a plant to mass produce the paper filter bags. The company was temporary out of business during both world wars, but is once again thriving. Douwe Egberts was a Dutch coffee merchant. Francesco Illy invented an espresso machine, and Jerry Baldwin was one of the founders of Starbucks.

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: Witches

Witches in works of old, and often still in modern children's literature, are usually depicted riding on broomsticks, or cooking up all kinds of evil potions over bubbling cauldrons lit underneath by burning pieces of wood. No self-respecting witch would be seen dead cooking up a potion over an electric or gas stove it seems. The title of this quiz itself comes down to us from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (written some time prior to 1606) which has a strong theme of witchcraft running through it, when the heroic warrior Macbeth falls prey to their evil suggestions and fortune-telling - only to lose everything.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: Ireland

The largest and, realistically, the only Cork that matters in the world, is the Republic of Ireland's second largest city. The name doesn't have anything to do with cork, but with corcach, the Irish word for swamp. Since cork oaks require a warm and dry climate, this indicates that cork oaks are not part of the local flora.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: liniment

Anne flavoured the cake she was making for Mrs Allen with anodyne liniment. You can read about it in Chapter 21.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: Teflon

Roy Plunkett (1910-1994) was a chemist employed by the du Pont de Nemours company. An experiment on sealing a gas in a container went wrong, and Roy discovered a waxy substance. A closer look proved this substance was very resistant to corrosion and friction, and Roy Plunkett decided to fit a pan with this substance. The first anti-stick pan was thus developed. Cornflakes were invented by John Harvey Kellogg and patented in 1878. Hippolyte Mège-Mouries invented margarine in 1869. The story of condensed milk is quite confusing, but it seems Nicolas Appert was the first to condense milk in 1820. 

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: Their gold

Leprechauns, part of Irish folklore, are little men usually dressed in green and not too kindly inclined towards humans. In fact they can be downright troublemakers. Part of the lore attached to these mischief makers is that each has a pot of gold hidden at the rainbow's end, and that, should you be lucky enough to catch one, he is forced to grant you three wishes to obtain his freedom. Oh but beware, as sure as Paddy comes from the bogs or Erin, a leprechaun, furious at being snared, will try his best to make those wishes rebound on you in some manner.

From Quiz Serving Size: 1 Can

Answer: Silly String

Silly string is one of the best-known nonfood canned items. Coming in aerosol form, you spray the liquid and it turns into a solid. You can use it to decorate Christmas trees and other things, or just spray it at people. It comes in bright neon colours and is a favourite with children at parties. Do be careful not to spray it across a naked flame, such as a candle, though as it catches fire quite easily.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: Portugal

The Cork Oak is native to the Western Mediterranean and is grown commercially in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, France and Africa north of the Atlas mountains. By far the most cork is produced by Spain and Portugal, of which Portugal was and is the largest producer and exporter.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: strawberries

Valancy picks the strawberries in Chapter 30. Montgomery seems to have liked the colour pink; red-headed Anne regretted she couldn't wear it and Valancy not only stains her fingers pink but wears pinkish red clover blossoms as a necklace.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: Coca-Cola

John Pemberton (1831-1888) was a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia. He invented a drink initially designed to cure a variety of diseases (including headaches and indigestion), which he made from wine, coca leaves and kola nuts. In 1886 he substituted the wine with carbonated water and patented it under the name Coca-Cola. The cocaine was discarded in 1905. Red Bull was created in 1987 in Austria. Four researchers from the University of Florida created Gatorade in 1965. Sir Thomas Lipton started a tea company in 1890. His company experimented with iced tea in 1904, but started commercializing the product only in 1964.

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: Poetry

The Welsh legend of Ceridwen tells of her living with her husband, daughter and son near the beautiful Bala lake in northern Wales. Her son, however, was very ugly, and in an attempt to compensate him for this, she concocted a potion in her cauldron, in order to make him wise and poetic instead. That potion took a year to make, and her young servant Gwion Bach was given the task of stirring it. Only the first three drops from this mixture would work however, but when those three very hot drops accidentally splashed onto Gwion's thumb, he automatically sucked it to ease the burning sensation - and so consumed them. He then fled in terror, but Ceridwen chased him, caught him and then unpoetically ate him. She later gave birth to the child who would become the famous poet, Taliesin.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: Bark

One of the most interesting facts about cork, is that it is the bark being harvested. After 25 years, a thick layer of bark is stripped from the tree, but unlike most trees, this doesn't kill it. It takes about 10 years to regrow its bark, after which it can be harvested again, a procedure which can be repeated every decade or so for well over a century. There is a portuguese saying: "Plant a wine tree for yourself, an olive tree for your children and a cork tree for your grandchildren".

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: vinegar

During the stinger season, which is around October to May, some Queensland beaches have bottles of vinegar stowed at intervals for emergency use.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: William Painter

Did you ever wonder who invented all these marvellous techniques of conserving beverages and opening the containers without too much spilling? Well, here is the answer. William Painter (1838-1906) was a mechanical engineer born in Ireland. He settled in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) around 1865. Two of his 85 patents have to do with sealing and reopening a glass bottle (especially containing a fizzing drink - either beer or some kind of soft drink). He used a metal lid with 24 (nowadays 21) dents that fitted tightly on the glass. To prevent chemical reaction of the liquid in the bottle with the metal of the bottle cap, the inside of the cap is protected with some kind of plastic. The bottle opener is a lever placed inside one of the pleats of the cap. Hyman Frank patented a screw cap in 1872. Kondakow patented the pull tab for canned beverages in 1956. Jaqueson developed an early muselet for champagne bottles in 1844.

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: He is wearing an upended one on his head

This really horrible work, which was created some time between 1490 and 1510, features the story of the biblical creation on the left side, mankind engaged in assorted acts of sin in the large central piece, and hell and damnation on the right side. It's almost impossible to view it without being filled with repulsion. However, as far as cauldrons go, the Prince of Hell takes centre stage in the right panel. He sits on what appears to be a commode chair, feasting on and then excreting dead bodies, and wearing an upended cauldron, said to represent corrupt rulers, upon his head.

From Quiz Serving Size: 1 Can

Answer: Oxygen

Whilst canned oxygen has been around for a while, the newer ranges that sell as 'luxury oxygen' come with a whole variety of aromas. Why settle for ordinary oxygen when you can smell pine forests or eucalyptus groves? These items do, of course, attract sales tax, proving that they have managed to find a way to tax the air you breathe.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: Wine

Bottles sealed with cork are excellent for shielding liquids from outside influences for longer periods of time. The flip side is that it is relatively expensive. Since milk and orange juice are not supposed to be kept for a long time, a carton with plastic cap will suffice. Even though some beers are still sealed with a cork, by far the most beer bottles have a crown cap made of metal and plastic.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: She ties scrubbing brushes to her feet and skates around

Pippi fixes brushes to her feet and skates about. In another kitchen floor incident she sprinkles sugar on the floor and walks on it.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: Post-It Note

Arthur Fry was born in Minnesota in 1931. In 1953 he started working at Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (nowadays known as 3M). When his colleague Spencer Silver announced in 1968 the invention of a special type of glue (good enough for a temporary adhesion), Fry came up with the idea of applying this new glue onto a piece of paper. After many experiments, the Post-It Note was created and hit the market in 1980. The knot in a handkerchief is a popular way to remember something. But what if you don't remember what incited you to put a knot into your handkerchief? The Dictaphone Company was founded by Alexander Graham Bell in 1881. It still produces dictation machines, but was sold numerous times - among others in 2006 to Nuance Technologies. The telephone answering machine has a long and confusing history: not a single person or company has patented this device, but many have contributed. The first commercially successful answering machine was marketed from 1949.  

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: Boiling people alive

This ghastly form of execution was used mainly in Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages. It was a cruel and dreadful way of doing away with one's enemies or criminals. The cauldron was filled with either water, oil or fat and then lowered by hook and pulley over a large burning fire until the person within was scalded to death, with their skin melted away completely. Henry VIII made this a legal form of punishment in England in 1532. Fortunately this barbaric form of execution was used but rarely, and mainly only for poisoners, counterfeiters and those carrying out very serious acts of swindling. Today in the Netherlands, in the town of Deventer, a cauldron used for this purpose can be seen on display.

From Quiz Serving Size: 1 Can

Answer: Air conditioner

Invented by the Japanese, canned air conditioner is supposed to instantly cool you down. Just spray directly onto your clothing in any hot and sticky situation. It doesn't replace deodorant, though you might be cooler, but it doesn't stop odours. Quite what the mix of chemicals does to your clothing is not clear. Also smokers should be aware that having a cigarette whilst spraying ethanol is not a good idea.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: William the Silent

William I, Prince of Orange, is better known as William the Silent. In the mid 1500s, at a time when Protestantism and Catholicism clashed, every leader in Europe had an opinion, leading to a widely accepted policy of whatever religion a territory's leader has, that is the religion of all his subjects. Being the de facto leader of the Netherlands, William was the exception to this rule, having the then revolutionary opinion that religion is an individual choice, not the responsibility of the leader. Even though the precise origin of the nickname isn't known, he received it mainly for not taking sides in the religious debate, which would have alienated him from half his subjects and half of the crowned heads of Europe.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: Custard made with colostrum, or beastings

Beastings custard is made by taking colostrum (the first milk produced by a cow after calving), adding sugar, and baking in a slow oven. It doesn't need eggs.

From Quiz Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Answer: James Dewar

James Dewar (1842-1923) was a Scottish chemist. He was busy with research on liquefied gases, when he came up with the idea of constructing two bottles (one inside the other) separated by a vacuum. This flask could maintain the temperature of the liquid or gas inside for much longer than previous techniques allowed. Dewar did not take out a patent on his invention. In 1904 a German company claimed the name thermos flask, and an American company (Thermos LLC) which later would acquire the German plant, started mass production of Thermos flasks. Sax invented the saxophone. Van Musschenbroeck created the Leyden jar, a device storing static electricity. Jan Palfijn came up with the forceps. None of these last three inventions is likely to be used in the kitchen.

From Quiz Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Answer: To bring dead soldiers back to life

This Welsh legend can be found in several works of Welsh literature, including "Branwen ferch Llyr (Branwen, Daughter of Llyr)" whose author is unknown. The story tells of the Irish King Matholwch who sails to Wales, seeking the hand of the Welsh princess Branwen in marriage, in order to form an allegiance between the two countries. When the Irish king's horses are severely damaged by a relative of the children of Llyr, the Welsh king Bran gives Matholwch a magic cauldron in recompense. That cauldron has the power to bring dead soldiers back to life, and this is used at a later date when war breaks out between the two countries. The story continues from there but is too detailed to include here.

From Quiz Put a Cork in it!

Answer: Floor

Cork flooring, for many a favourite way of covering floors. It looks nice, it's a good insulator and most of all, very environmentally friendly. Even though it isn't highly flammable, it will burn when held over fire for hours, so using it to build a chimney is not recommended. Since cork is very poor at letting light through, making windows out of cork appears to defeat its purpose. Furthermore is cork not structurally strong enough to support the weight of a human being climbing the stairs.

From Quiz Kitchen Things

Answer: cornflower

Cornflowers are usually blue, and cornflour is commonly used to thicken liquids.

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Last Updated Nov 16 2024 5:51 AM

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