10 Untypical Food Combinations/Recipes

... that might surprise you (or make you yack!)

1. Avocado & Cottage Cheese -- This one did make me yack.
2. Sushi & OJ -- this one's actually my favorite! Before we had a baby, my husband and I would spend money on sushi in a restaurant at every holiday/special occasion... Now that we spend that money on diapers, we eat cheap grocery store sushi... But honestly, I love it. The store has a small cafe to sit down in, so we love eating as a family. Our daughter LOVES sushi! But we always get there and realize we didn't bring our water bottles with us, so we buy their fresh squeezed orange juice. And I promise, there's no better combination!!!
3. Honeydew Melon (or Cantaloupe) & Chocolate Pudding
4. Spiced Egg Salad* with thinly sliced Avocado on Whole Wheat Toast
5. PB & Berry Sandwich -- Limiting your caloric intake? Instead of jelly, throw on a few berries =)
6. Banana Bread & Cream Cheese -- Yum!
7. Peas & Rajas* -- There are a few words that, even though I didn't learn Spanish until 19, are the first words that pop in my head for an object/idea... Weird, I know. But raja is one of them. When I cut peppers of any kind into long strips, the first word in my head is raja, not strip. Anyway, I never would've imagined peas going well with anything spicy, but a dear soul I knew in Mexico did.
8. PB & Waffles -- I'm sorry, dear Brazilian friends, but this one just grosses me out every time!
9. Croissants & Santa Fe Style Philly Cooking Cream -- Bake croissants with a dab of Santa Fe inside... Unexpected goodness!

10. Cream Cheese & Provolone -- There is a coffee shop in our hometown that sells a bagel sandwich called The Magic Cheese. I can't even remember what's on it because I've tried to copy it a number of ways! But the best is: Turn an "everything bagel" inside-out. Put cream cheese and provolone on the inside, with fresh ground black pepper, and toast in the toaster oven, or in the skillet as a grilled cheese!!!

*SPICED EGG SALAD
WHAT YOU NEED:
4 eggs, 4 TBSP. mayo, 2 tsp. crushed brown mustard, 1 1/2 tsp. water, 1/2 tsp. each fresh ground black pepper, paprika, and sea salt, with a slight little pinch dill weed.
HOW TO:
Boil eggs as you normally would. When cool, mix with all other ingredients in the food processor. Slather on sandwich = YUM!!!
(Serves 4)

*PEAS & RAJAS
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 can green peas, 2 jalapeños (capped, seeded, cut into rajas), 2 TBSP. butter, 3 oz. ham chunks, 4 oz. sour cream, little salt (more if unsalted butter)
HOW TO:
Melt butter slowly on low heat. Turn heat up to medium-highish, toss in rajas, and ham. Stir and wait for both ham and jalapeños to start to change color. Stir in peas, salt. Wait just a couple of more minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream. (Salt as needed.) SERVE! Goes great with a quesadilla.
(Serves 4)