Preserved
Jam vs. Jelly vs. Preserves
Mischief, Magic, & Mayhem
Fictional Halloween Favorites
October Garden
100
Of the three methods listed, which is the oldest food preservation method?
A. Canning
B. Freezing
C. Dehydrating
C. Dehydrating
Dehydrating foods is the oldest. Foods were dehydrated in dry climates by placing foods in the sun to provide heat. Today, moisture can be removed more quickly using a dehydrator that produces heat and movement of air with a fan.
100
Which of the following is the definition of jelly?
A. Made from whole or cut up pieces of fruit with sugar
B. Made from only the fruit juice and sugar.
C. Made using the whole fruit, along with the rind.
A. Made from whole or cut up pieces of fruit with sugar.
Jelly contains the most pectin and least pulp content of all the spreads. It’s the clearest fruit condiment and should be firm enough to hold its shape when turned out of the container.
100
What is the term for the act of magically summoning an object into existence?
Conjuring. A supernatural horror film called The Conjuring was released in 2013 and stars Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Ron Livingston.
100
In the 1960s television series The Addams Family, what is the name of the daughter who embraces the grim and often causes chaos?
Wednesday Addams. Her most cherished toy is a headless doll.
100
When planted in October, this delicious, white, cruciferous vegetable overwinters and is ready for harvest in early summer.
What is cauliflower? Snowball is a popular variety that is easy to grow. Its tough outer leaves protect it from the cold. Some varieties are ready for harvest in as little as three to five months.
200
Which brand of canning jars is the most famous/recognizable of all time?
A. Kerr
B. Reliance
C. Atlas
D. Ball
E. Anchor Hocking
D. Ball
Ball is one of the most recognized names in home canning. In the early 1900s, there were hundreds of brands of Mason jars, but only a few stood the test of time.
Fun Fact: The logo on a Mason jar can help you figure out when it was made. 
200
Which of the following is the definition of preserves?
A. Made from whole or cut up pieces of fruit with sugar
B. Made from only the fruit juice and sugar.
C. Made using the whole fruit.
C. Made using the whole fruit.
200
What is the name of the legendary magician and escape artist who died on Halloween in 1926?
Harry Houdini. He initially gained a reputation as the “King of Handcuffs.”
200
Who wrote the classic horror novel Frankenstein?
Mary Shelley. She penned the tale after an evening huddled around the fireplace with friends telling ghost stories.
200
Red delicious, yellow-delicious, and Roma varieties of this fruit are harvested in October.
What are apples? Fun fact: The average tree fills roughly 20 boxes at harvest, weighing approximately 42 pounds each.
300
What is the recommended amount of headspace (space between the lid and the surface of the food) for canned corn?
A. 1/4 inch
B. 1/2 inch
C. 1 inch
C. 1 inch for most vegetables. Use 1/4 inch for most jams and jellies, and 1/2 inch for most fruits, tomatoes and pickled products.
300
Which of the following is the definition of jam?
A. Made from whole or cut up pieces of fruit with sugar
B. Made from only the fruit juice and sugar.
C. Made using the whole fruit.
B. Made from only the fruit juice and sugar.
When it comes to fruit spreads, think of jam as the life of the party. It’s looser, chunkier and less rigid than its conservative cousin, jelly. The consistency of a good jam should be textural, soft enough to spoon and easily spreadable, with pieces of fruit in it. In other words, it likes to mingle with the crowd.
300
What magic word is often associated with granting wishes and comes from the Hebrew words meaning “I will create as I speak”?
Abracadabra. Abracadabra is a term that English showmen picked up after seeing rabbis perform healings. They used the word as a sort of incantation.
300
What were the magic words used to gain access to a locked room in the 1944 film Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves?
“Open sesame.” The movie’s captivating storyline helped solidify the expression “open sesame” as a reference for unlocking secrets or hidden realms.
300
October is the perfect month to start this sweet Italian herb indoors to provide a year-round supply for making pesto.
What is basil? It is an annual plant, and it won’t last after a frost. Its seeds are easy to sprout, and there are many varieties other than Genovese, the most common basil.
400
True or False? The actual jar (as in Mason jar) wasn't invented first.
True. When John L. Mason, a tinsmith, created the jar, he invented the cap first. The jar itself came after. Here's what one of the first Mason jars looked like:
400
Out of these 3 (jam, jelly, preserve) which is most similar to the process of making fruit butter?
Jam.
For those of you that want to skip the guessing game with pectin, while also using less sugar, like in jam, try making fruit butter. It’s made by cooking down the fruit mixture until thick and sticky instead of adding pectin to set the mixture as you would with jam.
400
What is the name of the ghostly holiday celebrated in Mexico that coincides with Halloween?
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. It’s a day when people pay tribute to departed ancestors and to the souls of loved ones who have passed.
400
In what 1993 movie do the three Sanderson sisters cause mischief and mayhem as witches on a quest for eternal youth?
Hocus Pocus. The sisters are Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, and they are played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.
400
This flowering shrub is used to produce a popular facial astringent.
What is witch hazel? It’s indigenous to the American Northeast, and it remains in bloom after most of the garden has gone dormant. It attracts butterflies but is resistant to deer.
500
Which is the safest method of sealing jam or jelly jars?
A. Use paraffin wax
B. Process jars with a 2-piece lid in boiling water bath
C. Apply waxed paper with a rubber band.
B. Process jars in a boiling water (or atmospheric steam canner) to destroy spoilage organisms in the headspace and to create a strong vacuum seal.
500
Marmalade is a variation of preserving which more specific type of fruit?
A. Berries
B. Citrus
C. Melons
B. Citrus
A marmalade is a fruit preserve made from citrus fruits. The fruit, including the peel, is simmered in boiling water until soft, then cooked with sugar to thicken. The end result can be lightly textured or gelatinous with larger chunks of rind throughout. The best types of fruit to make marmalade include:
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Kumquats
500
What types of cards date back to the 1400s and are commonly used in fortune-telling to gain insights into a person’s future?
Tarot. The cards are said to be steered by spiritual forces, and although each card has several meanings, a person’s meaning is decided by which would apply to the situation or question being asked.
500
What is the name of the Peanuts character who every year spends Halloween night waiting for the Great Pumpkin in a pumpkin patch?
A. Charlie Brown
B. Linus
C. Snoopy
B. Linus van Pelt
500
These purple, daisy-like flowers can be found in the garden until the first frost.
What are asters? They traditionally mark the turn toward autumn.