Review: Jell-O Temptations - Strawberry Cheesecake

Jell-O Temptations are slightly more upscale, layered, derivatives of their more standard fare of gelatin and pudding. I recently tried the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor which comes three cups to a package on sale for $2.50 (suggested retail is $2.89).

Frozen Friday: Healthy Choice - Roasted Chicken Verde

Healthy Choice's new Roasted Chicken Verde is another one of their steam cooking frozen dinner and are marketed as being ideal for lunch. The meal consists of sliced chicken tenderloins, whole grain rice, sweet corn, red and poblano peppers in a cilantro lime sauce.

A 8.6-ounce package costs about $2.99 or about $2 on sale.

Review: Pollo Campero - Crunchy Bowl

Guatemalan Fried Chicken joint Pollo Campero's Crunchy Bowl features a bed of seasoned rice and pinto beans topped with diced crunchy fried chicken, diced onions, cilantro and pico de gallo. There's also a grilled chicken option available but who goes to a fried chicken restaurant for grilled chicken? Each bowl costs $4.99 each.

Review: Sonic - Grilled Cheese

Sonic's Grilled Cheese is a value menu item that combines two slices of their thick Texas Toast with melted American cheese for $1.19. It's also an option as the main entrée for a kid's meal with a side, drink, and toy for $3.29.

Review: Jamba Juice - New Fruit & Veggie Smoothies

Jamba Juice is adding vegetables to fruit with three new Fruit & Veggie Smoothies. They're available starting today but I got a free set yesterday courtesy of Jamba Juice for reviewing/tasting purposes. The new smoothies come in three varieties: Berry UpBeet, Apple 'n Green, and Orange Carrot Karma.

A 16-ounce cup normally will cost you $4.25 with an 80 cent upcharge for each successive larger cup size.

Review: Jack in the Box - Hearty Breakfast Bowl

Jack in the Box's Hearty Breakfast Bowl features scrambled eggs and bacon and sausage crumbles on a bed of hash browns, topped with shredded Cheddar cheese and white Cheddar cheese sauce for $2.99.

Review: Starbucks - Rocky Road Cake Pop

Starbucks new Petites look like an easy grab for an add-on to your coffee, I recently took advantage of their recent promotion and picked up a Rocky Road Cake Pop for free to go with my Cocoa Cappuccino. It features a chocolate cake ball on a stick dipped in a dark chocolate coating and then sprinkled with mini marshmallows and roasted almonds.

They're normally $1.50 each.

Review: Starbucks - Iced Cocoa Cappuccino

Starbucks Cocoa Cappuccino is the first new drink to bear their new wordless logo as the brand moves to mean more than coffee. It features your typical Starbucks Cappuccino paired with a bittersweet mocha sauce.

It's available hot or iced and since the weather has been warming up a bit lately, I picked up an iced 12-ounce Tall recently for $3.55 (compared to about $2.65 for a regular Tall Cappuccino).

Frozen Friday - Healthy Choice - Rosemary Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Healthy Choice's Rosemary Chicken and Sweet Potatoes is one of their new steaming entrées. In addition to chicken and sweet potatoes, there's also yellow julienned carrots and pearl onions for a fancier take on frozen food that's really light on calories (180).

A 9-ounce package will run you a retail of about $2.99 or about $2 on sale.

News: Popeyes - Seasonal Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box Back

More Lent. More Seafood. In what has become a yearly event, Popeyes has brought back their limited-time Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box for $4.99 once again.

The Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box consists of eight deep-fried marinated Butterfly Shrimp, a side of Cajun Fries, and a Biscuit.

News: Starbucks - New Tribute Blend Via Ready Brew

In celebration of their 40th, Starbucks is celebrating with a new, limited-time Tribute Blend (as in a tribute to their loyal following) that will also be available in Via Ready Brew form which is listed on their online store at $10.95 for 12 single-serve packets.

Starbucks Tribute Blend is a blend of four different coffee beans: semi-washed and aged Aged Sumatra coffee, naturally-processed Sun-dried Ethiopian coffee, and washed coffees from Papua New Guinea and Colombia.

The stated flavor profile is "a spicy, full-bodied blend with dark cherry notes."

Considering how fast their Christmas Blend Via sold out, if Via is your thing, I recommend you get some while you can.

News: Qdoba - New Mini Street Tacos

For a limited-time Qdoba is offering new Mini Street Tacos which feature three small, soft corn tortillas filled with your choice of slow-roasted pulled pork or seasoned shredded beef topped with diced red onions and fresh chopped cilantro.

Curiously, there's no chicken or, taking into account the time of year, fish option.

A full order comes with a side of Ancho Chile BBQ beans and costs $4.99.

Review: Sonic - Chicago Dog

Sonic's Chicago Dog is one of four new hot dogs that they just added to their menu. Each new hot dog is available for the introductory price of $1.99. The Chicago Dog comes with a pickle spear, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, celery salt and mustard all served on warm poppy seed bun.

News: Starbucks - New Starbucks Petites

Along with the new logo and a new drink, Starbucks is celebrating their 40th anniversary with the introduction of Starbucks Petites, mini-desserts available in stores at a retail price of $1.50 each.

Review: Arby's - Outside-In Cinnamon Bites

Arby's new, limited-time Outside-In Cinnamon Bites are somewhat somewhat gimmicky but different take on the common cinnamon rolls. It's more like a beignet stuff with cream cheese and cinnamon though. Three slightly bigger than bite-sized pieces can be had for a buck.

News: Starbucks - New Cocoa Cappuccino

Starbucks newest, limited-time drink, the Cocoa Cappuccino is basically a cappuccino with a bittersweet mocha sauce.

Specifically it is a shot or two of espresso (depending on what size drink you buy), bittersweet mocha sauce (which should be less sweet than their normal mocha sauce), steamed milk, and a dollop of milk foam to finish.

Basically, it should be taste more coffee-like and less sweet than a typical Starbucks Mocha.

News: Frito Lay - New Tostitos Hint of Pepper Jack and Hint of Jalapeño

Frito Lay has added flavor to what I typically think of as their traditional, unflavored (save for salt) brand: Tostitos. It's not unprecedented (they have a Hint of Lime flavor as well as an Artisan flavored line) but it's an interesting choice considering that they already have lots of different brands of flavored chips but there you go.

Of course, they're not going with full blown Doritos-style flavor but are sticking with just a hint of flavor with new Hint of Pepper Jack and Hint of Jalapeño Tostitos chips.

Pricing will vary but you should be able to nab yourself a 13-ounce bag for around $2.50, or less if it's on sale.

News: Burger King - New $1 BK Single Stacker

For a limited-time, Burger King is offering the new BK Single Stacker for $1. The BK Single Stacker is a single-patty version of their current Stacker burgers. You can also double up or triple up on with extra patties and cheese with the BK Double Stacker for $2 or the BK Triple Stacker for $3.

I seem to remember they offered a similar promotion when they first introduced the BK Stackers a while back. Apparently, the BK Single Stacker is replacing the Buck Double on BK's menu.

Each BK Stacker features a simple formula of cheese, beef, bacon, and BK Stacker sauce with varying amounts of cheese and beef depending on whether you get a Single, Double, or Triple.

News: KFC - $10 Sunday Bucket

Looks like KFC is taking a page out of Pizza Hut's book by offering a promotion on a specific day of the week with the $10 Sunday Bucket.

Available only on Sundays and only for a limited-time, the Sunday Bucket features ten mixed pieces (i.e. white and dark meat) of any recipe (Original, Extra Crispy, or Grilled) for $10.

Update 10/14/13 - KFC is rehashing the limited-time deal this year and expanding it to cover Saturdays as well as Sundays (details here).

Review: Sonic - New York Dog

Sonic's new New York Dog is one of four new premium beef hot dogs at Sonic and features an all-beef normal-sized hot dog nestled in a soft bun and topped with sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard, and grilled diced onions.

It's available now for an introductory price of $1.99.