Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Bearded women saints, German 'quiche,' and more
By Mr. Smarty Pants, Fri., April 3, 2009
Potato chips stacked in a coffee filter are a great way of starting charcoal fires using a chimney starter.
According to legend, Wilgefortis is the only woman saint to have grown a beard. The daughter of the king of Spain, she converted to Christianity and vowed never to marry and only to serve God. When her father arranged for her to marry the king of Sicily, she prayed for a way to escape the marriage. She promptly grew a huge beard.
Xanthan gum, a thickener, is produced by fermenting corn syrup.
The word "quiche" is derived from the German kuchen, "cake." It was altered first to "küche." The hard "ch" became an "sh" sound, resulting in "kische," which in standard French orthography became spelled "quiche."
The above is information that Mr. Smarty Pants read in a book, magazine, or newspaper; heard on the radio; saw on television; or overheard at a party. Got facts? Write to Mr. Smarty Pants. Why not visit mrsmartypants.com?
