What's Your Food IQ?

Think your culinary knowledge deserves kudos? How many of these questions can you answer correctly?

1. What country is the white truffle from?

1. France

2. Italy

3. Spain

4. Greece

b) Found only in a certain region of Italy, white truffles are rare and sought after. They can cost thousands of dollars for just one pound. White truffles cannot be cultivated but must be harvested in the wild, typically by specially trained pigs or dogs. Experiment with truffle oil to see if you like the woodsy taste--drizzle it over potatoes, risotto or even avocado on multigrain toast.

2. What is Crema Mexicana?

1. Light cream

2. Whipped cream

3. Sweetened milk

4. Sour cream

d) Crema Mexicana is a sour, cultured, creamy cheese made from cow’s milk. It is similar to sour cream but does not separate when cooked, which makes it ideal for thickening sauces. It is very rich and works well with savory (think enchiladas) or sweet (try it over fresh fruit) dishes.

3. Garam masala is typically a mix of:

1. Peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom

2. Chaat masala, coriander, chili pepper, fennel seed and cardamom

3. Mustard seed, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger, coriander and cumin

4. Cumin, fenugreek, cloves, cardamom and coriander

a) Garam masala is a spice/curry mix used in Northern India. Recipes vary, but the ingredients listed in answer a are most commonly used. Traditional curry powders center on turmeric, which is not an ingredient in garam masala.

4. Which of these is important to buy organic?

1. Broccoli

2. Asparagus

3. Onions

4. Celery

d) Celery has significant health benefits, such as Vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties. However, this humble vegetable made a 2013 list of the top 12 types of produce to avoid for pesticide residues.

5. Which nut contains the least fat?

1. Pecans

2. Walnuts

3. Almonds

4. Chestnuts

d) Chestnuts have the least amount of fat, with zero percent but just one percent protein; walnuts have 62 percent fat, with 24 percent protein; almonds 47 percent fat, with 21 percent protein; and pecans 69 percent fat, with nine percent protein. Note that these are not grams but percentages.

6. Purslane is good for you because it:

1. Is rich in Omega-3 fats

2. Helps control your blood sugar

3. Lowers blood pressure

4. Contains high amounts of magnesium

a) Purslane reportedly has more Omega-3 fats, which aid the heart, than any edible plant. It also contains the antioxidant melatonin, which may inhibit the growth of cancer. You might recognize purslane as a “weed” growing in your garden; it looks like a tiny jade plant. But make sure what you have is actually purslane; a similar plant is not edible.

7. Ceviche is:

1. Fresh fish du jour

2. Fish marinated in lime

3. Mexican mahi-mahi

4. Fish served in fruit soup

b) Ceviche is a method of marinating fish with citrus juices, usually lime. It is a matter of debate as to whether it actually “cooks” the fish, but it changes the protein structure, and raw fish is commonly treated in this manner in South America. Use caution when eating ceviche, since all bacteria and parasites may not be killed during this treatment.

8. Pigeon peas are another name for black-eyed peas.

1. True

2. False

b) Although often mistaken for black-eyed peas, pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) are a separate legume that is popular in India, often used for a dish called dal. Black-eyed Peas (Vigna unguiculata) are actually beans and are closely related to mung beans. They are a popular food in the American South, often cooked with greens.

9. What condiment is more popular than ketchup in the US?

1. BBQ sauce

2. Salsa

3. Hot sauce

4. Mayonnaise

b) While some argue that Hellman’s mayonnaise is number one, ketchup has long been an American favorite, often cited as the top winner. However, recently salsa has been reported to surpass ketchup’s popularity.

10. Pancetta is:

1. Smoked bacon

2. Unsmoked bacon

3. Both a and b

4. None of the above

b) Pancetta, sometimes called Italian bacon, is flavored with spices, like cloves, nutmeg or fennel, and lacks American bacon’s smokiness. Both are typically made from pork belly and cured, but bacon is also smoked. Following a long curing process by a trusted source, pancetta is considered edible by some as is. However, it is recommended that any meat be cooked before being eaten.