3.     pumpernickel                                                                                                      
        a dark, sourish bread made from coarsely ground whole rye grain

        Where does the word "pumpernickel" come from?  (choose the one best answer)

A.    A tribute to this modern manna's so-secret ingredient: roasted pumpkin seeds.
B.    From the German words pumpern, meaning "break wind," and nickel for "goblin."
C.    Named for a Bavarian style of kneading, in which air is pumped inside the dough.
D.    During the 1920's in New York, it was the plumpest loaf you could get for a nickel.
                    
Egyptians were the first to get a rise out of bread, accidentally allowing a wheat-and-water gruel to ferment before baking it in 2600 BC.

Fast forward 3000 years to the Black Forest where German Friars baked a black loaf so indigestible it was said to make even the Devil flatulent.

The Torah, the Koran and the Bible all refer to "bread," but you might imagine early clerics having to light a couple extra candles the morning after that first pumpernickel loaf -- so B is correct.


(close this window to return to the quiz, or if you just got here you can navigate from the buttons on the left)