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Ask Mr. Know-It-All By Gary Lee Clothier
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: Where did the whoopie pie really originate, and how did the name come about? There are tidbits of information indicating it was originated by the Amish in Pennsylvania or that it was created in Maine or New Hampshire. -- E.P., Havertown, Pa.
A: The whoopie pie is made of two round mound-shaped pieces of cake -- chocolate seems to be the most popular, but I have also seen pumpkin spice, vanilla and even red velvet. Between the two pieces of cake is a filling, which is usually a sweet, creamy frosting or marshmallow. Whoopie pies were known originally as "hucklebucks."
One possibility for the unusual name is that when a child or husband found this dessert in their lunch they yelled out "Whoopie!" Well, it's a fun story for a fun name, though how true it is remains to be proven. As for the origin of this fun food, that, too, is a mystery. You named the principal areas that claim the pie's origin -- Maine even named the whoopie pie its official state treat! (It claims the blueberry pie as the official state dessert.) Personally, I grew up in the Amish country, so I'm a bit partial to that origin story.
Q: Does John Roberts still work at CNN? -- C.M., Milton, Pa.
A: In early 2011, CNN confirmed that John Roberts was leaving the network and joining Fox News as a senior national correspondent based in Atlanta.
Q: What is a proper tip to leave at a buffet dinner? Waiters serve only beverages and remove used dishes. -- J.C., Millersville, Md.
A: There seems to be varied opinions on buffet tipping. Most feel 10 percent is sufficient and, if the service is great, you can leave more than that. Regardless, you should never leave less than $1.
Q: In the movie "Charlie Chan at the Opera," did Boris Karloff do his own singing? -- M.M., Van Buren, Ark.
A: Boris Karloff did not do his own singing in the 1936 film. A singer named Tudor Williams dubbed Karloff's voice.
Q: Which is correct: "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less"? -- T.O.
A: According to Michael Quinion in his column "World Wide Words," "I could not care less" was originally a British saying and came to the U.S. in the 1950s. The inverted form, "I could care less," was coined in the U.S. and is found only here. Many claim that the way one says the phrase is crucial: "I could care less" means the same thing as "I couldn't care less" when said in a sarcastic tone. Otherwise, "I couldn't care less" is correct.
Q: My wife and I are great fans of the TV series "M*A*S*H." We watch reruns nearly every night. In the opening credits, five nurses run toward the chopper pad. We are curious about the brunette who is in front: Who is she? -- G. and C.W., St. Croix, Virgin Islands
A: Her name is Kathy Denny Fradella. She said she was a runner in high school, so she was more than eager to compete with the other actors for a chance to be in front for the credits. After the series, she acted in "Kojak," "Starsky and Hutch" and other shows. Fradella lives in Southern California. She is married and has two adult children. She is not involved in show business.
Fans of "M*A*S*H" will enjoy more trivia at mash4077tv.com.
Q: Who is the hunk who does the Ford commercials? -- B.D., Fort Smith, Ark.
A: The "hunk" in the Ford commercials is Michael Gregory "Mike" Rowe. He is best known as the host of the Discovery Channel series "Dirty Jobs." He was born in Baltimore in 1962. He graduated from Towson University with a degree in communication studies. Rowe sang professionally with the Baltimore Opera. His first job on TV was as a host on QVC.
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© 2011, Gary Clothier DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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Arnold Ahlert | ||||||||||||
