News: KFC - Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breasts Now 20% Larger

KFC is making another promotional push for their Kentucky Grilled Chicken this summer, and to aid them in the endeavor, they're going with bigger chicken breasts. Bigger is better right?

The chicken breast pieces (but not the wings, thighs, or legs) are now, on average, 20% larger than before.

In an interesting tidbit from the press release, KFC's KGS secret recipe is kept on an encrypted flash drive right next to their handwritten recipe for Original Recipe in the same high-security vault at their corporate headquarters.

News: McDonald's - New Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie

McDonald's recently launched their new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothies nationwide (although they were available a couple weeks earlier in some markets). The new smoothie features mango and pineapple puree blended with low-fat yogurt, ice and fruit juice concentrate.

The Mango Pineapple Smoothie is available for about $2.29 for a 12-ounce small, $2.79 for a 16-ounce medium and $3.29 for a 22-ounce large.

To promote the Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie (and other frozen drinks), McDonald's has a printable, online "buy one, get one free" coupon available on their website good on any Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, Frappe, or Smoothie (Expires July 31, 2011).

News: Sonic - New Ring Leader Loaded Burger

If spicy is not your thing but onions are, Sonic has you covered with their new, limited-time Ring Leader Loaded Burger which has deep-fried and grilled onions for you.

Each Ring Leader features a beef patty (or two) topped with a handmade onion ring, grilled onions, bacon, natural Cheddar cheese, lettuce,tomato and mayo on a toasted bakery bun.

News: Sonic - New Blazin' BBQ Loaded Burger

For a limited time, Sonic is serving up their new Blazin' BBQ Loaded Burger.

The burger features the spicy side of the Sonic menu with a beef patty (or two if you so choose) topped with crispy jalapeno strips plus sliced jalapenos, bacon, Pepper Jack cheese, sweet and spicy habanero and hickory BBQ sauces, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted bakery bun.

Review: Hostess - Strawberry CupCakes

Hostess's new Strawberry CupCakes offer a strawberry twist to their traditional cupcakes with strawberry cake and icing in additional to the same creamy filling and squiggle.

A box of 8 individually-wrapped cakes is priced around $3.99 but I picked this box up on sale for $2.50.

Review: Kraft - Jet-Puffed Stackermallows

Kraft's new Jet-Puffed Stackermallows eschews the traditional puffy, cylinder for a flatter, rectangular pillow shape ideal for making S'mores so I decided to make some S'mores with them.

I received this 8-ounce bag free from Kraft but they normally cost around $2.29.

Review: McDonald's - Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait

McDonald's Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait features low fat vanilla yogurt layered with blueberries and strawberries and topped with crunchy granola.

It's available on their Dollar Menu for an easy $1.

Review: Yoplait - Strawberry Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt really seems to be catching on; even Yoplait is getting in on the action. Yoplait's Strawberry Greek Yogurt features Greek yogurt with strawberries on the bottom. The hallmarks of Greek yogurt are more protein and a thick, creamy texture without the fat.

A 6-ounce cup normally costs somewhere around the $1.50 mark.

International Weekend: Lift Lemon Soda

Lift Lemon soda is produced and made available by the Coca Cola Company only in Australia. It's pretty much fizzy lemonade. The brand is available in a couple other countries as well but in different flavors.

There are a couple of Australian importers that carry this but it's fairly pricey imported at $4.95 for 1.25 liters.

Frozen Friday: Swanson - Turkey Pot Pie

Swanson's Pot Pies along with Banquet's are pretty much what comes to mind when I think of pot pies. They were cheap and the ones I ate as a kid growing up. Swanson's Turkey Pot Pie keeps the same basic formula as any other pot pie with carrots, potatoes, peas, gravy, and meat (in this case turkey).

You can pick these up for about a dollar or less.

Review: Oscar Mayer - Honey Ham & Swiss Sandwich Combos

Oscar Mayer's New Sandwich Combos appear to be an adult version of their Lunchables line. The Honey Ham & Swiss Sandwich Combos (it really should be "Combo" but whatever) is more or less what you'd pack into a sack lunch with a ham and swiss sandwich, a sugar free Jell-O Chocolate Flavored Mousse Temptations and a 100-calorie bag of Ritz Baked Snack Mix.

The regular price is about $2.99 for a package.

Review: Planters - Five Alarm Chili Peanuts Dry Roasted Peanuts

Planters new Five Alarm Chili Dry Roasted Peanuts features the familiar flavor of Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts but with a spicy chili twist.

It's normally about $4.00 for a 1-pound jar unless you find it on sale.

News: Taco Bell - New XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito

Taco Bell's newest, limited-time "abundant value" item on the menu is the XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito is offered with your choice of ground beef, chicken, are steak (chicken and steak cost more) and features their largest burrito so far filled with their three cheese blend (cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella), seasoned rice, refried beans, reduced-fat sour cream, guacamole, avocado ranch, and fiesta salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla and grilled.

Review: Jamba Juice - Magnificent Mango Pineapple Whirl'ns Frozen Yogurt

Jamba Juice recently extended their test of their Whirl'ns frozen yogurt line to southern California. Whirl'ns are so named because they "whirl'n" fruit into your frozen yogurt creating a frozen yogurt with bits of fruit blended in. I recently popped in and picked up a small 6-ounce Magnificent Mango Pineapple Whirl'ns topped with sliced almonds which features bits of mango and pineapple blended into original tart frozen yogurt.

Whirl'ns are available at $3.50 for a 6-ounce small with one topping and $5.50 for a 10-ounce large with one topping.

News: Arby's - New 'Shroom & Swiss

New to the southern California market and with limited availability regionally, Arby's is serving up a 'Shroom & Swiss roast beef sandwich featuring their trademark very-thin-sliced roast beef with roast seasoning, swiss cheese, crispy fried onions, sliced mushrooms, and a savory spread on a toasted specialty roll.

The sandwich is offered for $3.59.

Review: McDonald's Peach Pie

McDonald's Peach Pie is a new limited-time menu item being offered at only some McDonald's restaurants this summer (confirmed locations in southern California and in Pennsylvania).

They're available for 69 cents each for two for $1.00.

Review: Magnum - Double Caramel Ice Cream Bar

New Magnum Double Caramel ice cream bars come in a box of three and feature vanilla ice cream dipped in a chocolatey coating, then a caramel sauce, and finally Belgium milk chocolate.

The retail price for a box is about $3.99 but I've seen them on sale in the $2.00 to $3.00 range.

News: Taco Bell - 99 Cent Crunchwrap Supreme until June 18th

Taco Bell is cutting Crunch Wrap Supreme fans a break this summer with 99 Cent Crunchwrap Supremes (limit 2 per person, per visit) through this Saturday June 18th, 2011.

Crunchwrap Supremes normally go for around $2.39.

I know some of you are thinking, "Why not the Chalupa?!" but hey, cheap is cheap.

International Weekend: Coppenrath - Classic Granzer Ringe

This week's International Weekend products hails from Germany: Coppenrath's Classic Granzer Ringe which is basically a ridge ringed shortbread cookie.

I picked up a 400g package for $2.99.

Frozen Friday: California Pizza Kitchen - BBQ Chicken Crispy Thin Crust Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen's frozen BBQ Chicken Crispy Thin Crust Pizza brings their trademark barbecue chicken flavor home and features a crispy thin crust pizza topped with barbecue sauce, white meat chicken, reduced fat mozzarella cheese, smoked gouda cheese, red onions, and cilantro.

It's available as a 6-ounce individual pizza for a regular price of around $3.79.