News: Jack in the Box - Holiday Shakes are Back!

Once again, Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog Shakes are back at Jack in the Box for a limited time through the holidays.

As with all of Jack's shakes, they are available in large (24-ounce) and small (16-ounce sizes).

Retail pricing is $2.49 for a regular and $2.99 for a large.

Both shakes features a base of vanilla ice cream, their respective flavors, and are topped with whipped topping and a maraschino (preserved and sweetened) cherry.

News: Dunkin' Donuts - Fall Offerings 2011

Fall means pumpkin in your food and drinks and Dunkin' Donuts is no exception with their line up of limited-time offerings for the Fall of 2011:

Pumpkin Coffee and Latte: Pumpkin spice in coffee and lattes is once again on tap at Dunkin' You can get it hot or iced.

New Pumpkin Packaged Coffee: For the take-home-and-brew-yourself crowd, new Pumpkin packaged coffee is available in a special 8 oz. size (the standard for coffee is 12 oz) for a suggested price of $5.99.

Pumpkin Donut and Munchkins: Pumpkin cake donuts and donut holes.

News: Arby's - New Ultimate Angus Philly Sandwich

The latest in Arby's Ultimate Angus line of sandwiches, the new Ultimate Angus Philly features roasted, thin-sliced Angus beef along with fire roasted onions and green bell peppers, a garlic aioli spread, and Swiss cheese on a toasted roll.

I believe the standard cheese is usually provolone or Cheese Whiz on a prototypical Philly Cheesesteak but Arby's goes with a fairly standard variant.

It's $4.99 a sandwich although Arby's tends to send out pretty good coupons in their mailers.

The Ultimate Angus Philly joins Arby's current Angus line up of the Cool Deli Ultimate Angus and Three Cheese & Bacon Ultimate Angus.

Review: Quaker - True Delights Wild Blueberry Multigrain Fiber Crisps

Billed as a wholesome snack, Quaker's True Delights Wild Blueberry Multigrain Fiber Crisps feature blueberry flavor in a thin, round multigrain crisp. They don't actually contain blueberries though.

A 3.5-ounce bag should run you about $1.99 at retail or a buck on sale.

Review: Nabisco - Triple Double Oreo Cookies

In a less-than-inspired bout of innovation, the wonks at Nabisco came up with new Triple Double Oreos, a club-sandwich-like Oreo with three chocolate cookies sandwiching two layers of creamy filling (one layer of chocolate creamy filling and one layer of vanilla).

It's about $2.99 for a 13.1-ounce package.

News: Arby's Goes with Healthier Kids Meals

Similar to McDonald's recent change, Arby's is making their Kids Meals healthier by default.

The new default for Arby's Kids Meals is an entree, apple slices with dipping, and the choice of either low-fat milk, Capri-Sun fruit juice, or bottle water.

Arby's also has two new entree choices for their Kids Meals: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and the Jr. Turkey & Cheese Sandwich. These choices are in addition to the Jr. Roast Beef Sandwich and Prime-Cut Chicken Tenders.

Parents still have the option to request curly fries and a fountain drink as substitutes for the healthier choices.

News: Baskin-Robbins - Trick Oreo Treat - October 2011 Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins goes with a Halloween theme for their featured flavor for the month of October 2011: Trick Oreo Treat

Trick Oreo Treat features vanilla ice cream mixed with orange (the color not the flavor) creme Oreo cookies (the Halloween ones) and Baby Ruth and Butterfinger pieces.

Trick Oreo Treat is available nationwide during the month of October by the scoop (in a cup or cone), in a sundae or in hand-packed pints, quarts and half-gallons.

Samples are available gratis in those mini pink sample spoons.

Frozen Friday: Stouffer's Spaghetti with Meatballs

Stouffer's Spaghetti with Meatballs is one of their Signature Classics frozen entrees and features spaghetti with meatballs in a tomato sauce accented with spices.

A roughly 12-ounce box will run you about $3.59 at regular price or $2.00 to $2.50 on sale.

News: Dairy Queen - October Blizzard of the Month - Pumpkin Pie

It's pumpkin season! Every year around this time, companies like Starbucks and Sonic trot out their seasonal pumpkin offerings. Dairy Queen is no different and is here this October with the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard.

The Pumpkin Pie Blizzard features pumpkin pie blended with vanilla soft serve finished with whipped topping and nutmeg and is only available for the month of October.

In their other monthly promotion, Dairy Queen also has their Chicken Strip Basket for $3.99. It comes with four batter and fried strips of chicken, fries, and Texas toast.

Review: Burger King - Peach and Granola Sundae

Burger King's new Peach and Granola Sundae is one of the new premium sundae in their new soft serve line up and features a simple cup of vanilla soft serve with peach topping and crunchy granola.

Unlike the slightly larger Oreo Sundae, it's the same size as the $1 "traditional" (read: chocolate, caramel, or strawberry) sundaes but costs a little more at $1.79.

News: Taco Bell - The XXL Chalupa Returns

For a limited-time the XXL ("Double XL") Chalupa returns to Taco Bell.

First (and last) seen around this time last year, the XXL Chalupa rides on an XXL Chalupa flatbread filled with Fiesta salsa (tomatoes, onions, and cilantro), reduced fat sour cream, Taco Bell's three cheese blend (mozzarella, monterey jack, and American), lettuce, nacho cheese sauce, red tortilla strips, and seasoned ground beef.

At $2.79 at my local Taco Bell, the XXL Chalupa presents a little more bang for the buck than its smaller brethren.

Review: Burger King - Oreo Sundae

Burger King's new Oreo Sundae is part of their new soft serve line-up and features vanilla soft serve layered with chocolate fudge and topped with Oreo cookie pieces.

The Oreo Sundae is priced at $2.49 and comes in a larger cup than Burger King's "traditional sundaes."

Review: Domino's - Italian Sausage & Pepper Trio Artisan Pizza

One of a trio of Domino's new Artisan Pizzas, the Italian Sausage & Pepper Trio Artisan Pizza features an artisan-inspired rectangular pizza with tomato sauce, banana peppers, roasted red peppers, green peppers, shredded Parmesan Asiago cheese, and sliced Italian Sausage for $7.99.

Review: Domino's - Tuscan Salami & Roasted Veggie Artisan Pizza

Domino's Tuscan Salami & Roasted Veggie Artisan Pizza is one of their new Artisan Pizzas. The 13" x 9" rectangle pizza is priced at $7.99.

It's described as "ideal proportions of salami, spinach and onions, roasted red and banana peppers, and a dash of oregano, all over a garlic Parmesan sauce on an artisan-style crust." The boxes are signed by the store manager. Mine's was signed by a non-Saved by the Bell "Mario Lopez."

Review: Hostess - Orange CupCakes

Hostess Orange CupCakes are orange flavored cake with a creamy filling finished with an orange frosting and trademark squiggles.

A 2-pack goes for around $1.59 at my local supermarket.

International Weekend: Bouvard - Butter Biscuits

Bouvard's Butter Biscuits or "Petit Beurre" come from France but I was able to pick up a 175g package at a local supermarket for $2.59.

Frozen Friday: Banquet - Rigatoni & Italian Sausage

Banquet's Rigatoni & Italian Sausage is one of Banquet's new frozen entrees and features Italian sausage in marinara sauce over rigatoni pasta with shredded mozzarella cheese.

They tend to cost about $1.39 at regular price or at $1.00 or less on sale for an 8-ounce box.

Review: Jamba Juice - Apple Cinnamon Pretzel

Jamba Juice's Apple Cinnamon Pretzel is one of the baked goods in a revamped lineup and is all-natural and flavored with apple sauce, apples, and cinnamon.

It can be toasted and costs $1.95.

News: 7-Eleven - Free Coffee from 7am to 11am on National Coffee Day

7-Eleven is celebrating National Coffee Day tomorrow morning, September 29th, 2011, by offering free medium-sized cups of fresh-brewed hot coffee at participating locations in an event they're calling "CofFREE Day."

It's more like "CofFREE Morning" though; the promotion only runs from 7am to 11am.

Still, not bad at all for those looking for their morning pick me up.

In summary: Free medium-sized hot coffee at participating 7-Eleven stores on Thursday, September 29th, 2011 from 7am to 11am.

News: Krispy Kreme - Free Coffee for 2011 National Coffee Day

This Thursday, September 29, Krispy Kreme is celebrating National Coffee Day and their new Krispy Kreme Signature Coffee Blends by giving a free 12-ounce cup of House Blend Coffee to guests who visit one of their shops.

Krispy Kreme Signature House Blend is one of Krispy Kreme's new Signature Coffee Blends (along with Dark Roast and House Decaf) and is described as "a smooth, medium-bodied, Latin American blend with a balanced flavor profile for the everyday coffee drinker."

This offer is limited to one free 12-ounce House Blend Coffee per customer at participating U.S. and Canadian Krispy Kreme retail shops on Thursday, September 29, 2011.