Happy Belated Saint Patty's!

It's a day late but Happy St. Patty's Day! Corned beef and cabbage!

Why's it called "corned beef?" For the "corns" of salt used to treat the beef. It's also known as "salt beef" or "bully beef."

Review: Wheat Thins Wisconsin Colby Artisan Cheese Crackers

I think Wheat Thins Wisconsin Colby Artisan Cheese Crackers are supposed to be a fancier version of the original and are made with real Colby cheese.

A 8-ounce box cost me 1.99 on sale (a retail of $3.59).

Neat: Taco Bell USB Flash Drive

Neat huh?! It's a USB Flash Drive made to look like a Taco Bell sauce packet. They gave it to me (and the other bloggers/attendees) during the Doritos Locos Taco Launch Reveal / HQ tour.

Frozen Friday: Marie Callender's - Apple Pie

A relatively new frozen dessert from Marie Callender's, the two-serving Apple Pie is roughly the size of Marie's frozen pot pies but with a different crust and, more importantly, a different filling.

I picked a 10-ounce pie on sale for $1.99 (the regular price was $2.69).

News: Panda Express Testing Paw Plate

Panda Express is testing a "Paw Plate" out in several markets according to QSR Magazine. The Paw Plate is shaped to somewhat resemble a bear paw replaces Panda Express' traditional two-entree plate in these test markets.

Basically instead of getting two large-sized entrees, you get three smaller ones which gives you a little more variety if you so choose but overall the same amount of food for the same price. The plates also have the extra benefits of being recyclable, microwavable, and dishwasher safe.

News: Starbucks Offers Smoother, Creamier Steamed Milk

Starbucks has introduced a new milk steaming pitcher to their stores with a distinct, tapered dome-shaped bottom. The new pitcher is purported to allow Starbucks baristas to consistently steam milk with a more velvety texture than before.

What does this mean to the average Starbucks drinker? Well, if your typical Starbucks drink is a Frappuccino or an iced coffee, nothing really. But if you take a Starbucks cappuccino or latte every day (or any other steamed milk drink), it should mean a great deal. The new pitchers are meant to enhance the production of "microfoam" during steaming so that the result looks more like paint and less like thick but soapy water (bigger is not better for steamed milk).

News: Jamba Juice - New Fresh Juice Blends

Jamba Juice expands their fresh-squeezed juice options with new squeezed-to-order Fresh Juice Blends. The three new juice blend beverages join Jamba's existing line of fresh-squeezed carrot, orange, and wheatgrass juice drinks.

The three new Juice Blends are:

- The Triple Revitalize features fresh-squeezed orange and carrot juices blended with whole banana.

Review: Krispy Kreme - Honey Bun

Krispy Kreme's Honey Bun is another one of the packaged goodies I picked up from the Krispy Kreme Blogger Summit. It's somewhat like a cinnamon roll but more bread-like because it doesn't have as many swirls.

Like the rest of the packaged goods I picked up at the summit, they don't sell them in my neck of the woods, at least not that I've seen. I got it for free from the summit so I don't know how much they cost.

News: McDonald's Testing 1/4 lb Angus Burgers

Looks like McDonald's is testing out 1/4 lb versions of their Angus Burgers out in select locations out in Ohio (Napoleon, OH and Swanton, OH confirmed). Thanks for Brand Eating reader Chipster22 for the picture and the tip.

The quarter pound version seem to be a slightly more health conscious option offering the same toppings and condiments but with the whole grain bakery-style bun that is now used on McDonald's Premium Chicken Sandwiches.

News: Subway Offers Sun Chips 6-Grain Medley in Parmesan & Herb

New Sun Chips Parmesan & Herb 6-Grain Medley chips are now being offered in snack-sized bags as a side to go with your sub at Subway.

Selling points of the new chips are a blend of six grains (in order of most abundant to least): corn, wheat, oats, brown rice, buckwheat, and quinoa, and 18 grams of whole grains per serving. They're flavored with parmesan and Italian herbs.

If Subway isn't your thing, they're also available at your local grocers (you can check which ones with Frito Lay's Snack Locator)

News: Papa John's - New Buffalo Chicken Pizza for $10

Papa John's has a new pizza out just in time for March Madness. The new, limited-time Buffalo Chicken pizza is topped with Ranch sauce, white-meat sliced chicken strips, bacon, fresh-sliced onions and mozzarella cheese, finished with a swirl of tangy, spicy buffalo sauce.

It's only available through the end of April (Editor's note 6/29 - apparently it's still available) and will cost you $10 for a large.

Review: KFC - Chunky Chicken Pot Pie

KFC's Chunky Chicken Pot Pie is one of those items I've always wanted to try but always got sidetracked by other menu items and promotion.

Thankfully, KFC currently has a promotion where the pie is $3.99 and that's as good an excuse as any to finally get me one.

News: Starbucks - Spring 2012 Line Up - New Petites Pies and Tarts

Starbucks is expanding their line of Petites mini-desserts with new Petites pies and tarts.

They're are two new pies and two new tarts and they're available for $1.50 each, two for $2.50, or six for $7.50.

News: Arby's - Buy One, Get One Free Reuben Sandwich

Arby's is offering a "buy one, get one free" coupon for their Reuben sandwich on their Facebook page here. The coupon is only good this upcoming St. Patrick's Day weekend from Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 18.

Arby's Reuben comes with fresh, carved corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on toasted marble rye bread and carries a suggested retail price of $4.99.

News: Burger King - Free Fries on March 17 and 18

This St. Patrick's Day weekend (March 17 to 18), Burger King is giving you a little green (they're calling it "Heinz St. Paddy's sauce" but I think it's ketchup) as well as a free value-size order of their new fries.

There's no purchase necessary and you don't have to wear green or anything like that (although you can... it is St. Patrick's Day after all). As usual, it's limit one order per customer and while supplies last.

Review: Nabisco - Belvita Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits

Nabisco's Belvita Breakfast Biscuits come with the tagline "Nutritious Sustained Energy" and are supposed to help keep you energized through the morning. They really make it sound like health food.

Each 1.76-ounce (50g) pack comes with four crunchy biscuits which provide 18g of whole grain. I picked up a box of the Blueberry flavor which contains five packs and was on sale for $2.99 at my local supermarket.

News: Krispy Kreme - HOP-inspired Donuts

While rival donut chain, Dunkin' Donuts is going all St. Patrick's Day this Spring, Krispy Kreme is going Easter with new, limited-time, egg-shaped, HOP-inspired Donuts

Celebrating Easter and the DVD release of the Easter-themed family comedy, HOP, the two new donuts are the Sprinkled Chocolate Iced Egg with Kreme Filling and the Drizzled Iced Egg with Chocolate Kreme Filling.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - New St. Patty's Day Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts has your green this St. Patrick's Day time with two new St. Patrick's Day-themed donuts: the Lucky Mint Donut and the Green Shamrock Donut.

The Lucky Mint Donut is a glazed chocolate cake donut with chocolate icing and topped with mint chocolate bark.

The Green Shamrock Donut (pictured) features a yeast donut with green icing and shamrock-shaped sprinkles.

News: McDonald's Testing Fresh Bakery Goods in New England

According to the Boston Globe, McDonald's is testing freshly-baked... um... baked goods (yeah, I really strained my brain for that one) out in the New England area.

The new items are: Cheese Danish (McDonald's actually used to serve Cheese Danishes back in the '80s), Blueberry Muffin, Multi-grain Berry Muffin, Banana Bread, and (frosted) Mini Vanilla Scones  and are made with ingredients like butter, fruit, and whole grain oats.

News: Hostess- New, Limited-time Spring Twinkies and SnoBalls

Hostess is celebrating the Spring with two new, limited-edition Twinkies and SnoBalls.

New Lemon Creme Twinkies are the result of a contest a while back where fans voted on what would be the next Twinkie Flavor. Lemon Creme beat out other flavors like Raspberry Tart, Cookies 'n Creme, and Blueberry Pie.

As for Springtime SnoBalls, instead of pink, the creme-filled chocolate cakes coated in marshmallow and coconut will be lavender for the a limited time.