Off the Grid: Sally breaks down Paste BN's daily crossword puzzle, Nature's Candy
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Nature's Candy
Constructor: Dylan Schiff
Editor: Anna Gundlach
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- BRITT (37A: "Severance" actress Lower) I have written about the TV series Severance previously, but until today, I hadn't learned about BRITT Lower's role in it. On the show, which premiered in 2022, some of the workers at Lumon Industries agree to a "severance" procedure that separates work memories from non-work memories. BRITT Lower portrays Helly R, one of the Lumon employees who has undergone "severance."
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- THE (11A: The "T" of BTW) BTW = by THE way
- EDNA (14A: "The Gift of Southern Cooking" chef Lewis) EDNA Lewis (1916-2006) was a chef and author and founder of the Society for the Revival and Preservation of Southern Food. She authored four cookbooks, including The Gift of Southern Cooking, co-authored with Scott Peacock (2003).
- BEAVER TAILS (17A: Canadian fried dough pastries) The fried dough pastries known as BEAVER TAILS get their name because they are stretched to resemble the flat, paddle shape of BEAVERs' TAILS. The Canadian restaurant chain BEAVERTAILS serves the pastries with a variety of toppings.
- CDC (24A: Health org. based in Atlanta) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the national public health agency of the United States.
- THUMPER (27A: Bambi's bunny buddy) I enjoyed the alliteration of this clue. This is a reference to Disney's 1942 animated movie Bambi.
- TESS (34A: "___ of the d'Urbervilles) TESS of the d'Urbervilles is an 1891 novel by Thomas Hardy. The novel is set in the 1870s in Wessex, a fictional area of England that Thomas Hardy created and used as the setting for several of his novels. Although TESS of the d'Urbervilles is now considered an important 19th century novel, and the story has been adapted multiple times, it was controversial in its time.
- ELEPHANT EARS (35A: French pastries also called palmiers) The French pastries known as palmiers or ELEPHANT EARS are made from puff pastry. After the puff pastry is rolled out, it is coated with butter and sugar, and rolled up from two sides to meet in the middle. The roll is then sliced, which results in the pastry's signature shape.
- ORD (41A: Chicago airport code) ORD is the airport code for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, which is considered the world's most connected airport.
- DRS (51A: PCPs and ENTs) PCPs here refers to primary care physicians, and ENTs refers to ear, nose, and throat physicians, a common nickname for otorhinolaryngologists. The use of the these abbreviations in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation. PCPs and ENTs are doctors (DRS).
- BEAR CLAWS (59A: Danish pastries with almond paste and raisins) The Danish pastries known as BEAR CLAWS are made with yeasted sweet dough, shaped in a semi-circle with slices along the curved edge. As the dough rises, the sections separate, giving the pastry a claw-like shape. A BEAR CLAW is usually filled with almond paste.
- ORCAS (61A: Largest members of the dolphin family) How large are ORCAS? Males are generally 20 to 26 feet long and weigh around six tons. Female ORCAS tend to be smaller and are 16 to 23 feet long and weigh around four tons. Like their dolphin relatives, ORCAS have sophisticated echolocation abilities, which they use to detect prey and other objects in the water.
- ANNIE (62A: "It's the Hard Knock Life" musical) "It's the Hard Knock Life" is a song sung by ANNIE and the other orphans in the musical ANNIE. "Don't it feel like the wind is always howlin'? / Don't it seem like there's never any light? / Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in? / It's easier than putting up a fight."
- CAVE (4D: Spelunking site) Spelunking is the pastime of exploring CAVEs. It is also a very fun word.
- APR (5D: National Arab American Heritage Month (Abbr.)) National Arab American Heritage Month, observed in April (APR) each year, is an opportunity to lift up and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Arab Americans. The Arab American Foundation, a nonprofit organization working to promote an accurate image of the Arab American community, began an Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017. In 2023, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation recognizing Arab American Heritage Month.
- MOAT (7D: Castle's defense) and SAND (55D: Temporary castle material) I enjoyed this pair of castle clues. Every castle needs a MOAT, whether it's built of SAND or stone.
- DELPHI (9D: Home to the Greek oracle Pythia) In ancient Greece, the sacred precinct of DELPHI was considered to be the center of the world. Pythia was the title used for the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo located at DELPHI. She was known as the Oracle of DELPHI. From 7th century BCE to the late 4th century CE, the Oracle of DELPHI was the most prestigious and authoritative Greek oracle.
- LENTO (30D: Slowly, in sheet music) Please don't tell my childhood piano teachers I needed the help of crossing answers to remember this term. I kept wanting the answer to be "largo," which in my defense, is also musical notation for a slow tempo. LENTO on sheet music indicates slow, though not as slow as largo. The marking for the slowest tempo is larghissimo.
- ALIEN RACE (32D: Vulcans or Ferengi) The Vulcans are an ALIEN RACE in the Star Trek franchise. They are known for their adherence to logic and reason. The most notable Vulcan is Spock. The Ferengi are also a Star Trek ALIEN RACE. They were introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). The Ferengi have a hyper-capitalistic culture and are focused on making a profit. They were introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994). Quark the Ferengi bartender is a major character, and his brothers Rom and Nog are recurring characters.
- BREWER (44D: Milwaukee baseball player) The Milwaukee BREWERs are an MLB team whose name is derived from Milwaukee's association with the brewing industry.
- LOU (57D: British comedian Sanders) I became acquainted with the work of LOU Sanders when she was a contestant on the eighth series of Taskmaster in 2019. Taskmaster is a British game show that my son introduced me to. On the show, a panel of comedians attempt to complete a series of (often wacky) challenges. In 2024, LOU Sanders was a contestant on the British TV series, Dancing on Ice, which partners celebrities with professional figure skaters.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- BEAVER TAILS (17A: Canadian fried dough pastries)
- ELEPHANT EARS (35A: French pastries also called palmiers)
- BEAR CLAWS (59A: Danish pastries with almond paste and raisins)
NATURE'S CANDY: Each theme answer is a sweet treat named after part of an animal.
Solving this puzzle made me want to seek out a pastry shop. I appreciate that we have a selection of Canadian, French, and Danish pastries represented. Thank you, Dylan, for this sweet puzzle.