91 surprise recipes

Savoury filled cheese muffins built on a Bisquick base with sauteed carrot, celery and onion, sharp cheddar, and a deviled ham filling. A handheld breakfast or brunch muffin with surprising vegetable depth.

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.

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.

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.

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 made this recipe yesterday so I could get rid of a bunch of leftover strawberry yogurt. I was kind of worried about how it would taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was really good and my husband enjoyed it as well.

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

Wasn't sure about using ground chicken instead of beef to make bolognese, but I was surprised by how flavorful it turned out. For ground chicken, I just chopped chicken breasts into tiny pieces, and it worked like a charm. I have to say that I will definitely be making this recipe again very soon.