News: Frito-Lay - New Smartfood Selects

Frito Lay has expanded their brand of Smartfood products (or rather product since their was only one flavor of popcorn initially) into a whole line dubbed "Smartfood Selects" which feature all-natural ingredients, no preservatives, and no MSG.

The Smartfood Selects line includes popped chips, popcorn, and puffed corn. Another highlight of the brand is that certain nutritional information (calories per serving, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar) is displayed prominently on the front of the package  and accompanied by readily identifiable nutrition icons.

Review: Frito Lay - Enchilada Supreme Doritos Jacked

Doritos Jacked tortilla chips are a recent innovation from Frito Lay boasting of being bigger, bolder, and thicker. I recently tried Enchilada Supreme Doritos Jacked which purported to meld the flavors of cheddar cheese with tangy salsa and the bite of Mexican spices.

A 10.5-ounce bag cost me $2.00 on sale off a retail of $4.29.

News: White Castle Offers Craver Nation Loyalty Program

White Castle kicks off the launch of Craver Nation, a loyalty program/website for its fans that rewards them with free Sliders. You can visit the site at www.cravernation.com.

The website is a social media website where fans of White Castle can interact with each other.

News: Burger King - $1 for 2 Chicken Strips This Weekend

Starting today and running through the end of tomorrow, Burger King is discounting their new Chicken Strips to $1 for two.

The offer is only good May 5-6 at participating locations. The offer is not valid in Hawaii and Alaska because food just costs more out that way.

Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine - Roasted Turkey and Vegetables

Lean Cuisine's Roasted Turkey and Vegetables features a 200-calorie frozen meal with roasted turkey tenderloins with gravy and green beans with cranberries and slivered almonds.

I got an 8-ounce box from my local supermarket for $2 but they're normally $3.29.

News: Arby's - New Orange Cream Shake

For a limited-time, Arby's is blending a new flavor of milkshake with the Orange Cream Shake.

They're describing it as "cool, creamy & totally dreamy!" It features vanilla shake mix blended with Orange Cream syrup.

Sounds to me like it would taste like those orange Popsicles with a vanilla ice cream filling except blended into a shake.

News: Hardee's Cooking Up New Breakfast Wraps

Hardee's is now offering new Breakfast Wraps, perhaps for those who want something more snackable than a breakfast burrito (they're about 100 to 110 grams compared with 265 grams for Hardee's Loaded Breakfast Burrito).

The new tortilla wraps are offered in two varieties: Bacon, Egg & Cheese and Sausage, Egg & Gravy.

News: Häagen-Dazs - Free Cone Day, May 8th

Like Ben & Jerry's, ice cream maker Häagen-Dazs has their fair share of fans and like Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs also throws a Free Cone Day event and it's coming up this Tuesday, May 8th, between the hours of 4 and 8 pm.

Not sure if you can get in line repeatedly like at the Ben & Jerry's event but free ice cream is free ice cream, no?

News: The Chicken Pecan Salad Returns to Arby's

The Chicken Pecan Salad is back for the summer at Arby's. Available on either honey wheat bread or in a whole-grain wrap, the Chicken Pecan Salad features sliced roast chicken, mayo, diced apples, sliced grapes, diced celery, chopped, toasted pecans, and green leaf lettuce.

I tried both versions last year. Both were fresh and flavorful if a little heavy on the mayo but I preferred the wrap over the bread.

News: Starbucks - Frappuccino Happy Hour Returns, May 4-13, 3-5pm

Starbucks is bringing back Frappuccino Happy Hour starting today and running till May 13. Under the Happy Hour promotion, you can pick up any Frappuccino, made the way you want it, for half the regular price from 3-5 pm.

Heading into summer, Starbucks introduces the new Mocha Cookie Crumble as well as its non-coffee counterpart, the Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme. Their features include a chocolaty whipped creme that might look mighty fine on whatever Frappuccino you have your local Starbucks make for you.

I put together a guide last year on the basics of Starbucks Frappuccino customization. You can check it out here.

News: Carl's Jr. - New Hand-Breaded Chicken Tender Sandwiches

Apparently, not content with the Hand-Breaded Chicken Fillet Sandwich, Carl's Jr. is replacing it with new Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders Sandwiches which come with two Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders inside instead of a single chicken breast fillet.

The new sandwiches come in three varieties partially aping their snack wrap flavors: Bacon Swiss Crispy, Honey Mustard, and Buttermilk Ranch.

News: Starbucks Summer 2012 Featured Line Up

For those of you wanting a more chocolaty Frappuccino this summer, Starbucks is aiming to please with new, limited-time Mocha Cookie Crumble and Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme Frappuccinos.

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino features coffee blended with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, chocolaty chips, milk, and ice topped with chocolaty whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumbles. "Chocolaty," by the way tends to mean made with cocoa and not chocolate.

The Chocolate Cookie Crumble Creme is for when you're not feeling the coffee and blends the same ingredients as the Mocha version sans the coffee.