127 suprise recipes

Jalapeño salsa cooked on the stovetop with fresh tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, and a surprising kick of chopped green olives. A bright cooked salsa that goes with chips, tacos, eggs, and grilled meats.

Crazy chocolate cake made with no eggs, no butter, and no milk. Vinegar and baking soda create the lift in this one-bowl Depression-era recipe that bakes up surprisingly moist and rich.

Mock apple pie made with crackers instead of apples, boiled in sugar syrup with cream of tartar. A Depression-era trick pie that tastes surprisingly like real apple pie without a single apple.

Pears Helene is a classic French dessert of poached pear halves served with hot chocolate sauce and optional vanilla ice cream and chopped almonds. Elegant, timeless, and surprisingly simple to make at home.

Fig garden party cakes layer sponge cake or lady fingers with a homemade dried-fig filling cooked down with peanut butter, butter, and lemon juice. A vintage tea-table dessert with surprising depth.

Sugar-crusted pecans spiked with habanero chile powder, folded into chocolate cake batter for a sweet-heat surprise in every bite. Five ingredients, ten minutes, and your chocolate cake will never be boring again.

Reptile pot pie poaches alligator, snake, or iguana meat in a Thai-Indian curry sauce of coconut milk, fish sauce, turmeric, and coriander. Served over baby vegetables with fresh cilantro. Bold, unexpected, and surprisingly approachable.

Freshly baked bread is always a winner. Try this three celery bread that's made with celery seeds, fresh celery and fresh celery leaves. You will be surprised by how delicious and moist this bread comes out.

Just 4 ingredients and no oven needed. Couscous cooked in apple juice with vanilla sets into a sliceable cake studded with fresh blueberries. Naturally vegan, low-fat, and surprisingly satisfying for a healthy no-bake dessert.

Slow-baked navy beans in a tangy molasses, brown sugar, and bacon sauce with a surprise ingredient: lemon-lime soda. This from-scratch baked beans recipe simmers low and slow for fork-tender, smoky results every time.

Smooth, creamy avocado and raisin dip blended with lime juice in just 5 minutes. The raisins add a sweet chewiness that makes this a surprising twist on guacamole. Scoop it up with chips, crackers, or raw veggies.

Spaghetti al zenzero is a fresh, fiery twist on aglio e olio: spaghetti tossed in a garlic, ginger, and chili-infused olive oil, then brightened with basil and mint. A quick, vegan weeknight pasta with surprising zing.

I was surprised at how good this was. I will add fresh cilantro next time, and fresh veggies such as corn and green onion, celery. Was not spicy enough for my taste, so maybe add jalepeno next time as well. I enjoy this recipe!

I was skeptical about the recipe, but I happened to have all the ingredients on hand, so went for it. To my surprise, it actually tasted delicious. It was also a great way to use frozen broccoli. Overall I liked it, and will probably make it again.

I omit pizza sauce for this one. If you've never tried it. try it just once, you might be surprised how good it is without sauce. Make sure the pizza is completely covered with vegetables, sometimes I use very finely chopped broccoli with this as well, and if I feel adventurous, jalapeno peppers