Instructions:

Surprise Cake

1 (18 ounce) box plain yellow cake mix
    (not pudding-in-the-mix, not butter-recipe
    mix), such as Duncan Hines
1 (3.4 ounce) box coconut cream instant pudding mix
1 1/3 cup (most of a 12 ounce can) Mountain Dew
    (or other citrus soft drink)
4 eggs
2/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled finely
Your favorite chocolate frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

Combine the dry cake mix and the instant pudding mix in the large bowl of an electric mixer.

Add the Mountain Dew, eggs and oil and beat as directed on the cake mix package.

Crumble the tarragon with your fingers (do it over a piece of paper instead of directly into the bowl, so you can catch and re-crumble any large pieces that escape). Add the tarragon and beat just to mix thoroughly.

Pour into prepared pans and bake 30 to 35 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a rack, then remove from pans, fill and frost.

Serves 10 to 12.