Frozen Friday: Fresh & Easy - Beef Tamale

Fresh & Easy's Beef Tamale with Tomatillo Chili Sauce caught my eye as a lesser chosen frozen meal with an easy price. It features a corn tamale filled with seasoned beef, covered in a green tomatillo sauce and cheddar cheese and served with a side of Mexican-style seasoned rice.

All of Fresh & Easy's individual-serving frozen entrees are $1.99 each.

News: Krispy Kreme - Free Coffee on National Coffee Day

To celebrate National Coffee Day, Krispy Kreme is offering free coffee in stores and a chance to win free coffee for a year online.

No purchase is necessary to claim your free 12-ounce cup of coffee on National Coffee Day, Saturday, September 29, 2012, but you will have to make sure the location you frequent is participating in the promotion. The promotion is valid in the U.S. and Canada only.

Review: Burger King - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Burger King's Chicken Parmesan Sandwich is a fancier iteration of their occasional menu item, the Italian Chicken Sandwich. The Chicken Parmesan Sandwich comes with crispy or grilled chicken breast, mozzarella and shaved Parmesan cheeses, and marinara sauce on an artisan-style bun.

The suggested retail price is $4.79, but my local Burger King has them for $4.99. Fortunately, Burger King has a buy one, get one free coupon online, so I tried both the grilled and crispy versions.

News: Cinnabon - Free Minibons on September 25th

Cinnabon is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the mini version of their trademark Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, the Minibon, by offering Facebook fans one free Minibon each on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

The offer requires a coupon that is printable from Cinnabon's Facebook page and is good at participating mall locations only.

Around the World: Subway Japan - Spanish Subs

Subway Japan follows up last month's English-themed promotion (and French before that) with a Spanish-themed promotion featuring a Bacon & Potato with Anchovy Sauce sub and a Spanish Omelet with Tomato Meat Sauce sub.

The featured ingredients are not the first, second, nor third thing I think of when I think of Spanish cuisine (bacon and potatoes make me think Irish and tomato meat sauce makes me think Italian), but the subs seem interesting enough.

News: Ben & Jerry's - New Cannoli Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's latest U.S. limited batch ice cream flavor is Cannoli. This take on the classic Sicilian pastry features mascarpone ice cream with fudge-covered cannoli pastry chunks and a mascarpone swirl.

Ben & Jerry's Cannoli ice cream is set to arrive in stores by the end of the month and it's only available for a limited time.

Review: Sonic - Crispy Chicken Hickory Flatmelt Sandwich

Sonic's Crispy Chicken Hickory Flatmelt Sandwich is a limited-time offering that features crispy fried chicken breast strips, hickory BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, and grilled onions folded instead a warm flatbread.

I got mine for free courtesy of Sonic, but they regularly go for $3.99.

Around the World: McDonald's Austria - New McNoodles

McDonald's is branching out into Asian stir-fry in Austria starting tomorrow, September 20, 2012, with new McNoodles. McDonald's features fresh vegetables (looks like red peppers, baby corn, red cabbage), chicken, salad greens, and one of two sauces: Sweet & Sour and Curry.

The noodles are wheat Hokkien noodles shipped directly from Thailand and heated in a water bath at each McDonald's restaurant.

News: Starbucks - New Cinnamon Rolls

Starbucks brings new Cinnamon Rolls to the bakery display of their stores this fall. The new rolls feature a soft and light pastry dough rolled up with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and then covered with cream cheese icing (think Krispy Kreme glaze waterfall).

Starbucks previously served a Double Iced Cinnamon Roll that was discontinued. It featured a blend of Indonesian and Vietnamese cinnamons and was iced with both a sugar glaze and a cream cheese frosting.

News: Campbell's Soup Offers Extensive Lines of New Soups

Campbell's Soup is going all out to attract the next generation of soup eaters with new lines of soup amounting to a huge expansion of varieties featuring bolder, more worldly, and fanciful flavors.

There are three new lines of soups as well as additions to Campbell's original line of condensed soups and Chunky soups.

Here's what's new:

Review: Subway - Birthday Berry Cookies

Subway's Birthday Berry Cookies are a limited-time item they're serving up this month to celebrate their birthday (notwithstanding the fact that they were founded in August). Each cookie has dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and white chocolate chips baked in.

I picked up two recently so I could heat one in the toaster oven to compare. My local Subway had them for 60 cents each or three for $1.25.

News: Jamba Juice - $1 Smoothies in CA and NY for Two Weeks

Jamba Juice is bringing back their Dollar Days promotion and offering 16-ounce smoothies for $1 in New York and California for two weeks from 9/17/12 through 9/28/12, but only on Mondays through Friday and only between the hours of 5pm to 7pm.

News: McDonald's - New Daily Double

McDonald's latest value burger, the new Daily Double, was tested earlier this year and now finds itself on the Extra Value Menu at $1.99.

For about a dollar (the McDouble is $1.19 at my local McDonald's now so it's only 80 cents more for me) more than the Dollar Menu McDouble, pickles, ketchup, and mustard get replaced by lettuce, tomato, and mayo while onions, double beef patties, and cheese stick around.

Review: Taco Bell - Mountain Dew A.M.

Taco Bell's Mountain Dew A.M. is Mountain Dew soda mixed with Tropicana Orange Juice. You could mix it at home, but if you're at Taco Bell for First Meal anyway, they can provide and mix it for you.

I picked up a 20-ounce large for $1.99 which is the same price as a similar-size cup of plain orange juice at Taco Bell. I really should have gotten the smaller cup. Why do I keep falling for the "for x cents more, you get a lot more beverage?"

Review: Nabisco - Belvita Chocolate Breakfast Biscuits

Nabisco's Chocolate Belvita are one of the latest additions to their line of breakfast biscuits. They promise "nutritious sustained energy" and the taste of chocolate.

A 8.8-ounce box comes with five individually wrapped packs. I got this box on sale for $2.99 ($4.69 regular price).

News: Kellogg's - New Special K Popcorn Chips

Touting them for prime-time television watching and late night snacking, Kellogg's introduces new Special K Popcorn Chips. They're made with corn and are baked rather than fried (They look a bit like thin rice cakes) with 28 chips and 120 calories to a serving.

Special K Popcorn Chips are available in two flavors: Butter and Sweet & Salty.

The idea is popcorn flavor with a crunch while promoting sensible snacking, but couldn't they just as easily sell seasoned, air-popped popcorn for the same effect?

Review: Ben & Jerry's - Coffee Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream is fairly simple with pieces of Heath candy bars mixed into coffee ice cream.

I normally pick up a pint of Ben & Jerry's on sale between $2.50 to $3.50. It was really hot today, so I thought I'd enjoy some ice cream.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's - Farmers' Harvest Vegetable Lasagna

Stouffer's Farmer's Harvest Vegetable Lasagna is a frozen meal made with whole grain lasagna, layered with carrots, spinach, broccoli, onions, and a parmesan and romano cheese sauce.

A 10.5-ounce box retails for $4.19 at one of my local supermarkets.

News: Culver's - 2012 Seasonal Fall Menu

Culver's serves up six limited-time items this fall. There are a few new dishes and a few returning favorites. On the new side of things, there's the new Colby Jack Pub Burger and Asian Crunch Salad. Returning are a spate of pumpkin frozen drinks and Sweet Potato Fries.

The new Colby Jack Pub Burger features a beef patty, seared on a grill and topped with Wisconsin Colby Jack cheese, crispy fried onions, 4-pepper mayo, and A.1. Steak Sauce served on a Supper Club bun. It comes with a side of Wisconsin Cheese Curds and is available through November 11, 2012.

Review: Starbucks - Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino features coffee blended with mocha sauce and toffee-nut-flavored syrup, milk, and ice. It's then topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a mixture of turbinado sugar and sea salt.

A local Starbucks was giving free samples in little cups so I gave it a try.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - Fall 2012 Pumpkin Donuts and More

Dunkin' Donuts rolls out a full line up of pumpkin and apple flavors this fall as well as new Pumpkin K-Cup packs for convenient use at home.

The fall menu of limited-time items is as follows:

New Apple Orchard Donuts and Munchkins: Apple-cider-flavored cake donuts (or donut holes) with cinnamon sugar topping.

News: Krispy Kreme Celebrates Talk Like a Pirate Day with Free Donuts

For those of you who didn't know (which is probably like 90% of everyone), next Wednesday, 9/19/12 is Talk Like a Pirate Day and Krispy Kreme is celebrating by giving away a free donut to each to anyone who steps inside a participating Krispy Kreme location and talks like a pirate. Arr!

It's a little early for Halloween, but for those who are willing to go full-on Jack Sparrow (i.e. dress like a pirate), will be rewarded with a full dozen free Original Glazed Donuts.

Review: Arby's - Turkey Classic

Arby's Turkey Classic is part of their new Turkey Roasters line and is basically the roast turkey version of the Roast Beef Classic.

For $2.99, you get a good amount of warm, sliced roast turkey on a toasted sesame bun. You can ask for mayo, ranch, or honey mustard to go with it.

News: McDonald's Testing Cheddar Bacon Onion Burgers in New York

McDonald's is testing the Cheddar Bacon Onion Angus Burger and Cheddar Bacon Onion Premium Chicken Sandwich in the New York tri-state area.

The sandwiches feature hickory-smoked bacon, caramelized grilled onions, two slices of white cheddar, and a creamy mustard sauce along with their respective bases (third pound Angus beef patty, or grilled or crispy chicken breast).

Review: Taco Bell - A.M. Crunchwrap

Taco Bell's A.M. Crunchwrap is the new "cornerstone" to Taco Bell's First Meal breakfast menu. Upon first glance, it seems pretty typical: a slight variant on a breakfast burrito as a flour tortilla is folded into a hexagonal shape and pressed with a filling of scrambled eggs, your choice of bacon or sausage, cheese, and a hash brown for $2.49. But, it has its surprises.

News: Red Robin Intros Beer Milkshake for Oktoberfest

Red Robin goes a little beer crazy with a new beer milkshake this year in celebration of Oktoberfest. The alcoholic concoction is made with creamy soft serve, Samuel Adams' Oktoberfest draft beer, vanilla, and caramel. If it sounds like something that tickles your fancy (and you're 21 or over), it's available at Red Robin restaurants until November 11, 2012.

To accompany the shake, Red Robin suggests Warm Pretzel Bites, warm, soft pretzel bites served with Merkts beer cheese dip and tangy beef mustard.

News: IHOP Introduces Own Blend of Quaker Oats

The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) worked with Quaker Oats in creating their own blend of Quaker oatmeal which blends three different types of oats and is only available at IHOP restaurants. The move offers a more healthful and nutritional option to IHOP's more decadent menu choices.

There are three new varieties of Quaker oatmeal to choose from (but one is just a variation of another):

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Review: Popeyes - New Signature Sauces

I recently got to try Popeyes' three new Signature Sauces along with a $3.99 Tenders combo meal courtesy of Popeyes (that's one Tender per sauce!). The three new sauces are Bayou Buffalo, Sweet Heat, and Blackened Ranch.

I got three spicy tenders, but maybe I should have gone for mild for more neutral dipping.

News: White Castle - New Crispy Jalapeno Cheese Sliders and Fries

White Castle is offering some crispy heat this fall with new Crispy Jalapeno Cheese Sliders and Crispy Jalapeno Cheese Fries.

Crispy Jalapeno Sliders offer your choice of beef or chicken patty sliders with jalapeno cheese and crunchy fried jalapeno crisps.  The price is 99 cents per beef slider and $1.77 for the breaded chicken version (will vary with location).

News: Snickers - New Limited Edition NFL Minis

With football season kicking off, Mars Chocolates adds a new novelty to serve at your football gatherings with new Snickers Limited Edition NFL Minis.

They come in a 40-ounce bag and each wrapper sports one of 32 NFL team logos. The suggested retail price on each bag is $8.98 and, in a familiar tune, they are only available at Walmart stores nationwide.

News: Hostess Halloween Cakes Are Back!

This fall, Hostess is once again returning their Halloween-themed cakes for a limited time and introducing a new Donette.

Orange is the color for this Halloween season with returning ScaryCakes and GloBalls.

ScaryCakes are a seasonal variant of Hostess Chocolate CupCakes, but with orange frosting and red, brown, and yellow sprinkles (and no icing squiggle).

News: Denny's - "Build Your Own" Burgers and Shakes

Denny's is currently promoting "Build Your Own Burger" and "Build Your Own Shakes" menus for a limited time.

For the "Build Your Own Burger" menu, Denny's features 37 different ingredients as diners can choose:

A patty - beef, veggie, grilled seasoned chicken, or turkey.

Review: Dannon - Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dannon Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt was previously just Dannon Vanilla Greek Yogurt, but they've since adopted the Oikos name from sister brand Stonyfield. The yogurt remains the same and shouldn't be confused with Stonyfield Organic Oikos which is also available, but has a much different flavor.

I picked up a 5.3-ounce cup for $1 on sale (regular price of $1.29)

News: Healthy Choice - New Greek Frozen Yogurt

The Greek yogurt boom continues, with major brands like Dannon and Yoplait out with their own versions of what used to be a niche product, it's not a surprise that Healthy Choice (a ConAgra brand) enters on the frozen side and is now in the Greek frozen yogurt game with new Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt.

Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt comes in a 3-count box of 100-calorie, 4-ounce individual cups.

Around the World: Starbucks Japan - Seasonal Crunchy Caramel Drinks

From left to right: Iced Crunchy Caramel Macchiato, Hot
Crunchy Caramel Macchiato, and Crunchy Caramel
Frappuccino.

While we have our seasonal Starbucks autumn flavors of Pumpkin Spice and Salted Caramel here in the U.S., over in Japan, there is no Pumpkin Spice Latte (*gasp* I know). Instead, this fall, Starbucks Japan is celebrating the falling of leaves with the Crunchy Caramel Macchiato and Crunchy Caramel Frappuccino.

The Crunchy Caramel Macchiato is layered with a dark, bitter caramel sauce along the bottom, overlaid with  frothy steamed milk and espresso coffee before finished with crunchy bits of candied almonds and a criss-cross of sweet caramel sauce.

Review: Hostess - Devil's Food Cake Zingers

Hostess Devil's Food Zingers are very similar to a Twinkie in that they're long bar-shaped cakes filled with creme. For the Devil's Food Zinger, the cake is devil's food cake (i.e. a rich chocolate cake) and it's iced on top with a chocolaty coating.

A 15.24-ounce box of 12 individually-wrapped cakes retails for $4.29 and you might guess that this particular box cost two for $5, but you would be wrong! They were actually buy one, get one free, so $4.29 for two boxes.

Around the World: Pizza Hut Australia - The Plank

Down in Australia, Pizza Hut is offering a new, limited-time 94-cm (~37 inches) extra long pizza, they're calling "The Plank." Now, The Plank is not actually a 94-centimeter pizza, but rather 3 deep-pan, slab pizzas whose lengths add up to 94 centimeters and are fitted into a 94-centimeter box.

News: Yogurtland - Two New Flavors This Fall

Yogurtland pumps out new White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Blackberry Passion Fruit Tart flavors of frozen yogurt this month.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut is made with double roasted macadamias from Australia that are ground into a butter and folded into the yogurt.

Blackberry Passion Fruit Tart features passion fruit from South America and blackberries from Oregon. An 8-ounce serving provides a full day's worth of the recommended intake of Vitamin C.

Frozen Friday - Lean Cuisine - Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli

Lean Cuisine's Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli is a simple meal of cubes of grilled white meat chicken, florets of broccoli, and rigatoni pasta in a creamy alfredo sauce.

A 10-ounce box typically retails for $3.29 at my local supermarket.

News: Nabisco - New Candy Corn Oreos

Starting September 10, 2012, new Candy Corn Oreos will be available exclusively at Target stores nationwide (superstore clout strikes!) according to The Huffington Post. The suggested retail price is $3.59 for a 10.5-ounce package.

Candy Corn Oreos feature a candy corn flavored creme (half colored orange, half colored yellow) sandwiched between two Golden Oreo wafers (kinda white) to reflect the candy corn color scheme.

News: Baskin-Robbins - September 2012 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins' September 2012 Flavor of the Month is Apple Cinnamon Crisp. Ushering in autumn, the Apple Cinnamon Crisp features cinnamon-flavored ice cream interspersed with apple and oat chunks, cut with a brown-sugar-and-cinnamon-flavored swirl.

Apple Cinnamon Crisp is available by the scoop (cup or cone), in a waffle bowl sundae, or as part of a custom ice cream cake. It can also be taken home in fresh-packed pints and quarts.

News: Starbucks 2012 Fall Seasonal Menu

No new drinks on Starbucks 2012 Seasonal Fall Menu, but seasonal favorites, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, and Salted Caramel Mocha, are back for a limited time. For non-coffee drinks, a Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino might pique the interest.

Review: Arby's - Market Fresh Turkey Asiago Sandwich

Arby's Market Fresh Turkey Asiago Sandwich is a limited-time sandwich filled with thin-sliced, oven-roasted turkey, tomatoes, Asiago cheese, green leaf lettuce, thinly-sliced red onions, and savory au jus spread (a mix of mayo and au jus powder) on two slices of honey wheat bread.

The price is on the fast food high end at $4.99.

News: Boston Market - New Market Bowls

Boston Market introduces new Market Bowls, which takes a KFC-like approach in layering entrees and sides into a easy-to-eat bowl.

Each Market Bowl features your choice of two gourmet sides (a starch and a veggie; one of each) and a choice of Boston Market's signature Rotisserie Chicken, Roasted Turkey Breast, or Meatloaf combined in a bowl and topped with Beef Gravy, Poultry Gravy, or one of three sauces: Zesty Barbecue (mild); Sweet Thai Chili Garlic (medium hot), and Honey Habanero (medium hot). The bowls are available for a limited-time at $6.99 each.

News: Subway - New Birthday Berry Cookie

Since Subway is throwing themselves a birthday party this month, it's only appropriated that they're baking new, limited-time Birthday Berry Cookies, which feature a colorful blend of red, white, and blue in cookie form. Specifically, the cookie has cranberries, blueberries, and white chocolate chips baked in.

My local Subway charges 60 cents per cookie or three for $1.25.

News: Baskin-Robbins - New Waffle Chip Dippers

Nachos as a dessert?! Well, kinda. Baskin-Robbins offers new Waffle Chip Dippers this month, a dessert consisting of a "dip" of vanilla soft serve drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with M&M’s and Snickers pieces, along with six hand-cut, triangle-shaped waffle and brownie chips.

Waffle Chip Dippers are available through the end of September at participating Baskin-Robbins shops nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.99.

News: Burger King - New Fall Menu with New Chicken Sandwiches and Wraps

Burger King has been on a tear lately with their new menu items. For the fall, starting this September, Burger King is serving up 7 (or 9 if you count the different varieties of wraps) new, limited-time menu items.

The menu theme is focused on chicken, but also touches on smoothies and breakfast.

Here's the complete list:

Review: Popeyes - Southern Peach Pie

With summer well on its way out, Popeyes' Southern Peach Pie also nears the end of its run. Fortunately, I was able to grab on for $1.49 on a recent visit to Popeye's.

From the product picture, I was expecting the bubbly, crispy-fried pie crust similar to McDonald's back in the day. Instead, I received something that more resembled a darkened normal pie crust that may have been baked at some point.

News: The Coffee Bean - $1 Fall Drinks on 9/6/12

The Coffee Bean will be offering $1 Fall Drinks tomorrow, Thursday, 9/6/12, from 2pm to 6pm.

The proceeds from the $1 drinks sold will be donated directly to Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity.