10 Foods You Had No Idea Went Well Together

Remember when you were a kid and you ate a ton of weird food combinations that made adults pull a disgusted face and roll their eyes? Personally, I pretty much survived on a diet comprised of just macaroni and cheese with hot dogs mixed in. Oh, and occasionally I'd switch things up with a peanut butter and fluff — which is essentially just super sugary marshmallow spread — sandwich.

But, somewhere along the way we lose our creativity and sense of adventure with food. Instead of French fries dipped in chocolate sauce or SpaghettiOs on doughnuts, we simply resign ourselves to a dull life filled with traditional peanut butter and jelly, or chips and salsa.

It's no secret that there's a lot of not-so-fun things that come with being an adult. Bills, full-time jobs, no summer vacation, and just responsibility in general. But, just because you're now technically a "grownup" doesn't mean that your diet needs to consist of the standard turkey and cheese on whole wheat.

That's right, people. It's time to exercise our food ingenuity once again! Think you've lost your grasp on that creativity that allowed you to develop some strange — yet delicious — food combinations? Have no fear! I've rounded up 10 surprising food combinations that are a little wild, and still totally edible.

1. Peanut Butter and Salami

My dad has always sworn by peanut butter and salami sandwiches. Sounds disgusting, doesn't it? But, apparently the spice of the salami combined with the rich, creamy smoothness of the peanut butter is positively delicious. I guess I'll just have to try it.

2. Chocolate and Bacon

Who doesn't love a great combination of salty and sweet? Chocolate-coated bacon is a definite step up from the more widely accepted chocolate-covered pretzels. Dip cooked bacon in either milk or dark chocolate, add sea salt or crumbled nuts, and then let the chocolate harden. It's actually a favorite treat at the Wisconsin State Fair. Served on a stick, of course.

3. Graham Crackers and Brie

I'm a Wisconsin girl, so combine anything with cheese, and I'm all about it. I never would've thought of brie cheese on a graham cracker on my own, but this baked brie crostini looks delicious. The rich and velvety texture of brie combined with the sweet crunch of a graham cracker? Yes please.

4. Strawberry and Tomato

This one surprised me, but apparently strawberry and tomato together is a positively savory flavor pairing. Try it out by making a strawberry gazpacho, or by adding some strawberry jam to your grilled cheese and then dipping it in tomato soup.

5. Cocoa Powder and Avocado

If chocolate-flavored guacamole sounds like something straight out of your dreams, you're in luck. Avocados and chocolate make a great team! There are tons of recipes where you can combine these two delicious ingredients, including cake, pudding, mousse, truffles, and brownies. This is what dreams are made of, people.

6. Parmesan and Dark Chocolate

I'm all about dark chocolate and cheese, so this combination seems almost too good to be true. I can't explain the science of why this tastes good, so you'll just have to trust me. Start with a baby step by sprinkling some parmesan on your dark chocolate ice cream.

7. Potato Chips on Sandwiches

Everybody knows that chips are delicious with a sandwich. But, if you've ever craved a little more crunch and texture, try putting some potato chips on your sandwich. They'll liven up the otherwise cohesive texture of your traditional sandwich, and add a little extra salt too! Definite bonus points for barbecue chips on a grilled cheese. You won't regret it.

8. Salmon and Barbecue Sauce

I continuously find myself facing an intense moral dilemma: I hate the taste of fish, but I know it's really great for you. So, I'm pretty much willing to try anything that will help to disguise that fishy taste. I love barbecue sauce, so this pairing seems like a win-win.

9. Olives and White Chocolate

Here we go with the salty sweet combination again. I think this pairing seems like one of the weirdest ones on the list. But, I can imagine that the creamy sweetness of white chocolate would perfectly contrast the salty, sharp taste of olives. So, it might be worth a try!

10. Watermelon and Black Pepper

Watermelon is delicious and refreshing all on its own, so it's difficult to imagine that there's a way you could improve it. But, sprinkling some black pepper on your slice of watermelon will bring out all of the flavors and add an extra spice. For a step up, you can coat your watermelon chunks in olive oil, and add some sprinkles of salt and pepper for a treat that's completely addicting!

Images: Will Folsom, Sparky, lydiajoy1, Nathan, Vegan Feast Catering, Edsel Little, Mr.TinDC, rfduck, darwin Bell, Nora Kuby/Flickr; Heidi Larson/Foodie Crush