Going to Krispy Kreme for Some Coffee and Donuts

The folks at Krispy Kreme have been kind enough to jet me across the country to their North Carolina headquarters for their blogger summit and a behind-the-scenes tour of their headquarters.

I'll be sure to let you guys know of any Willa-Wonka-type hi-jinks that ensue while I'm stuffing my face Augustus-Gloop-style on coffee and donuts.

So basically, I'm flying across the country tomorrow for coffee and donuts! Sweet!

Look forward to pictures and posts when I return!

News: McDonald's - New Caramel Hot Chocolate

Also new at McDonald's this month is Caramel Hot Chocolate.

It's basically a Caramel Mocha but without the espresso which is to say it's chocolate caramel syrup blended into steamed milk and topped with whipped cream and a bit of caramel.

Price ranges from $2.29 to $3.29 for varying sizes (may vary with loca
tion).

It's caramel for the chocolate-but-non-coffee-drinking set I suppose.

News: McDonald's - New Chicken McBites

New and for a limited time at McDonald's, Chicken McBites is McDonald's own Mc-take on popcorn chicken and feature seasoned and battered bite-sized chicken breast chunks.

They're available in three sizes: Snack (3 ounces), Regular (4.5 ounces), and Sharable (10 ounces).

You can expect Chicken McBites to be around for about 3 months so you can expect to find them until about early to mid April.

News: Post - New Honey Bunches of Oats Fruit Blends

Post is now offering a new take on their Honey Bunches of Oats cereal with new Honey Bunches of Oats Fruit Blends. Fruit Blends are available in two flavors: Peach Raspberry and Banana Blueberry.

The new cereals feature flavored crispy flakes (banana or peach) mixed with flavored oat (blueberry or raspberry) clusters.

While the brand already offers flavored clusters, what makes the new varieties different is the new varieties and the fact that the flakes themselves are flavored.

News: Arby's - New Jamocha Cream Pie

Fans of Arby's Jamocha Shake can now get their Jamocha fix in a new, limited-time Jamocha Cream Pie.
different form with

Each slice of pie comes with a layer of Jamocha (read: coffee) flavored cream topped with whipped cream (or topping, not sure which) and chocolate syrup.

It's a limited-time item so if you're hankering to try it, it won't be around forever.

Frozen Friday: T.G.I.Friday's - Grilled Chicken Mac & Cheese

T.G.I.Friday's brand Grilled Chicken Mac & Cheese frozen entree comes with white meat chicken and cavatappi pasta in an American cheese sauce topped with cheddar, Romano, parmesan and Monterey Jack cheeses.

A 12-ounce box retails for around $4.29, ranging about $2 to $3 on sale.

Review: Wendy's - The "W" Cheeseburger

Toeing the line between Wendy's value menu junior hamburgers and more premium Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburgers, Wendy's offers a little bit of both with the "W" cheeseburger for $2.99.

The "W" features red onions, hand-leafed lettuce, crinkle-cut pickles,two 2.25-ounce beef patties, two slices of American cheese, and Wendy's signature sauce on a buttered, toasted bun.

News: Starbucks - New Blonde Roast Coffee Sampling Jan 12 - 14

Long known for its dark roast coffee, Starbucks is out with a lighter Blonde Roast of coffee to draw in coffee drinkers who prefer such (some 54 million coffee drinkers in the U.S. apparently, according to Starbucks research).

To figure out if you're one of those 54 million people, Starbucks is hosting “Find the Roast You Love Most” tasting events at participating Starbucks locations starting today, January 12 and running through January 14.

The events will be hosted for three hours each day (times vary by location so call first) and customers will be able to taste Starbucks Blonde Roast alongside its Medium Roast and Dark Roast. Those who participate in the taste test will receive a sticker declaring their roast preference, as well as a free sample of Blonde Roast to brew at home or a coupon for $1 off either their choice of a pound of any Starbucks coffee or their choice of any variety 8- or 12-pack of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

The new blend is available as a brewed option at Starbucks stores in the U.S. and as packaged coffee at Starbucks locations as well as grocery stores.

News: Jamba Juice - New Fit 'n Fruitful Smoothies

Jamba Juice kicks off the new year with new Fit 'n Fruitful Smoothies at a promotional price (with coupon) of $2.

What makes them Fit 'N Fruitful? Besides the standard blend of fruits, these smoothies contain Jamba's Weight Burner Boost as well as boasting "a good source of protein and fiber and two or more servings of fruit."

Weight Burner Boost is made with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is known for its weight management properties i.e. it can help with any new weight loss resolutions.

Fit 'N Fruitful Smoothies are available in three flavors: Berry Blend, Peach Mango, and Strawberry Raspberry Banana.

Review: Carl's Jr. - Oreo Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Sandwich

Carl's Jr.'s Oreo Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Sandwich offers a fresher take on the stuff you find in the frozen food aisle with oversized Oreo cookie wafers (around 3" in diameter) sandwiching a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

It carries a suggested price of $1.49 but it's a little pricier in my area at $1.69.

News: Dairy Queen - January Blizzard of the Month - Strawberry CheeseQuake

Dairy Queen starts of 2012 with Strawberry CheeseQuake for January's Blizzard of the Month.

The Strawbeery CheeseQuake Blizzard features real pieces of cheesecake and strawberries blended in with Dairy Queen's vanilla soft serve.

As always, you can also get the Blizzard of the Month as an ice cream cake and it will only be available through the month of January.

News: Baskin-Robbins - Berry Nut Honey Frozen Yogurt - January 2012 Flavor of the Month

For those of you looking to eat a little lighter for the new year, Baskin-Robbins offers a lighter Flavor of the Month for January with new Berry Nut Honey Frozen Yogurt.

Featuring honey and vanilla-flavored frozen yogurt with a triple berry ribbon and sweet honey oat almond pieces, the new flavor offers 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat per 2.5-ounce scoop (compared to 200 calories and 12 grams of fat for last month's flavor) as well as live and active cultures.

Berry Nut Honey Frozen Yogurt is available nationwide during the month of January by the scoop (in a cup or cone), in a sundae or in hand-packed pints, quarts and half-gallons.