I Dare You to Pare a Pear Trivia Quiz

Answer: Flaugnarde

A clafoutis is a dessert made traditionally with black cherries (including the pits) baked in a custard, similar to a flan. A flaugnarde is basically the same thing except any fruit other than cherries are used. Clafoutis and flaugnardes can be served either warm or cold.

Answer: It has been cooked in simmering liquid.

When a pear has been poached, it simply means it has been cooked in a simmering liquid for sometime to absorb the flavor. The most basic poached pear is simmered in a sugar water which allows the pear to maintain its shape while tasting sweet. However, almost any liquid can be used for added flavor. Sometimes, spices are added to the liquid.

It is also common for certain types of alcohol to be added to the liquid.

Answer: Crumble

A crumble is basically an upside-down pie with the crust on the top. However, the crumbled topping does not hold the dessert together in the same way a pie crust does. When a crumble is served, the topping is often mixed in with the fruit rather than remaining on the top.

Answer: Poire belle Helene

Poire belle Helene is a pear and ice cream dish that similar to a banana split. Poached pears and ice cream are served together with a variety of toppings typical found in an ice cream sundae such as chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Sliced almonds are a very popular topping as well. The dish is named after the French opera "La Belle Helene" which debuted in 1864.

Answer: False

The first tarte Tatin was made with apples and was created at the Hotel Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron, France at the end of the 19th century. It was invented by the Tatin Sisters, Caroline and Stephanie. The origin of the dessert is unknown but a common story is that Stephanie accidentally let an apple and butter mixture burn which she tried to rectify by making a pie out of it. Because the pie crust would need to be baked for a long time (too long to make any use of the already cooked apples) she used a thin bottom crust instead.

The tarte Tatin was a hit. Today, apples remain the most popular fruit used but pears are also sometimes used to create the dish.

Answer: Fruitcake

Kletzenbrot is also called Tyrolean Fruit Bread and strongly resembles a fruitcake. However, Kletzenbrot is more bread-like than cake-like. It is baked like bread and contains many different dried fruits with pears being the most popular fruit used. The moisture from the pears allowed for the Kletzenbrot to last much longer before spoiling.

Answer: Almond

A frangipane tart is made with a tart shell, an almond custard filling and a fruit place on top. The frangipane strictly refers to the almond custard. It is named after the frangipani plant that was an original ingredient in the custard listed in the first known recipe for it in the mid 17th century.

Answer: Ozark pudding

Ozark pudding is a pie or cake consisting of large chunks for dried fruit (especially pears) and nuts held together with a very thin, almost invisible layer of custard. The purpose of the custard, which is usually unflavored, is to act like a cement to keep the desert together. Ozark pudding was a favorite of President Truman, who was from Missouri, and his wife Bess' recipe is considered the gold standard for Ozark pudding.

Answer: Red wine

Poire a la Beaujolaise is basically a poached pear that has been poached in a red wine. Typically, red wine is added to the water and is not the sole liquid used. The dish originated in the Burgundy region of France so Burgundy wine is the preferred wine to use in this dish. Poire a la Beaujolaise was created to make use of pears that were picked unripe.

Answer: Switzerland

Birnbrot or birnweggen is a traditional Swiss snack or dessert that consists of a pastry dough filled with a dried fruit and nut filling. Pears are the primary fruit used for birnbrot. The different between birnbrot and birnweggen is primarily geographical although there are also a culinary varieties. Birnbrot is stuffed with the filling while birnweggen is rolled up like a Yule log.