The New Carl's Jr Steakhouse Burger

So Carl's Jr has come out with a new burger. The Steakhouse burger, made with fried onions, crumbled blue cheese and A1 steak sauce.

Honestly, I am not a big fan of onions but when I saw the A1, I thought, "Eh, why not?"


I was genuinely surprised and delighted at this burger. Delicious is the first word that comes to mind. Manly is the second. The beef from Carl's Jr is always wonderful but topped with those onions it becomes tangy and filling. But the onions do not overpower the slight taste of the blue cheese which was very interesting. And the A1 steak sauce is such a perfect combination! The almost bitter taste of a steak sauce mixed with steak and sweet fried onions is mouthwatering just to think about.

Since trying this burger for the blog, I have already gone back and purchased it 3 more times. In fact, I suggest you go out and get one now, just like I am going to.

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Archway Cookies Introduces New Package Design

Recently Archway Cookies redesigned their packaging, and sent out samples of their cookies in all of their brilliant beautiful boxes.

I got Shortbread, Peanut Butter, Windmill and Iced Lemonade. I had never tried an Archway cookie but I was excited because, face it, it’s a cookie!

The first night, I opened the bag of Iced Lemonade cookies and I proceeded to eat almost half the bag. They were not too sweet, the perfect amount of buttery flavor and a thin, hard layer of a sour lemon frosting on top. The tangy frosting was the perfect zip of flavor to make even one cookie satisfying.

Next time I had a craving for some sweets, I opened the Shortbread box. I was so pleased with my first experience with Archway cookies that I was excited about trying this new flavor. It did not disappoint.

The sweet layer of the cookie provides the crunch and then you are met with this buttery inside that melts in your mouth.

Then I had the classic Peanut butter cookie. It was a soft cookie that had little chunks of peanuts in it. It was everything a Peanut Butter cookie should be but the peanuts stuck in my teeth and mouth so I had to have some milk with it to wash it down.

Finally I had the Windmill cookies. It was a crunchy cookie with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. They were so good I ate the whole box!

So all in all, I would say if someone ever offered me another Archway cookie I would take it happily and eat it with a smile on my face.

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Wheat Thins Smokey BBQ

For me, a Wheat Thin topped with a thin slice of cheddar has always been a great snack. Stack some sandwich meat and another Wheat Thin on top of that and you have a mini sandwich! It’s perfect for a picnic, a day at a fair or just going out.


 However, I was surprised recently to find out Wheat Thins, like most other cracker and chip companies, are trying their hand in the flavoring department. I noticed the box of “Smokey BBQ” Flavored Wheat Thins. Intrigued, I got a box to try them out.

Honestly? It has that same crunch of a Wheat Thin and it has the same powdery BBQ flavoring as most chips do, but when put together it has a less than satisfying taste. The BBQ flavoring tasted very similar to Barbequed Lays Chips but unfortunately for the Wheat Thin, it is not a potato chip. I was left with a salty mouth and not happy with the experience.

And one thing for sure about these BBQ crackers…I would not enjoy them with a slice of cheese.

Check out Wheat Thins online: http://www.nabiscoworld.com/wheatthins/

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Deep Fried Oreo Cookies

Seen at Mermaids Casino, Fremont Street, Las Vegas.

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Jalapeno Cream Cheese Bacon Poppers

I was visiting some friends last night, and one of them made these baked jalapenos with cream cheese and bacon.

I never had these before, nor even thought about doing this. But seeing that I'm really into spicy foods these days, I was intrigued.

I'm sorry the photos below are of a poor quality, but I only had my cell phone camera.

1. Slice several jalapenos in half, and scoop out the seeds

2. Filled the slices with Philadelphia Cream Cheese

3. Using toothpicks, attach small slices of bacon.

4. Bake in an oven at 400 degrees for about 15-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like the bacon.

Baking the jalapenos tend to make them less spicy. I didn't really find these to be all that hot, but still very delicious.

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1st Annual Jerky Challenge

Wanted to let everyone know that I'll be participating as a judge via my other food blog, "Best Beef Jerky". Here's the official press release....

Do you make jerky that you think out rivals the store bought variety?

Do you think your jerky is the best you have ever tired?

Do you think if there were a jerky competition you would win it?

Now you have your chance to prove yourself. Best Beef Jerky is teaming up with Peppers and More, I Love It Spicy, Hot Sauce Daily, and Scott Roberts Web to sponsor a World Class Jerky Competition. If you want to step up and prove your jerky is the best around then you need to enter! There will be four categories to enter, and with every category there will be a prize. A $5 fee will be charged for every entry with all money to be reserved for the competition. You can enter as many times and/or categories as you wish. All entry fees will be paid through PayPal.

A jerky entry must be in a vacuum sealed pouch with the Category and Contestant # (to be given out after payment is received) clearly written on the pouch. All entries must disclose the sauce utilized ahead of time if one is used. The judges to be selected will know nothing more about the jerky than what their eyes, nose and taste buds tell them. It will be the sole responsibility of the contestant to mail the jerky to the respective four judges. All judges are on the top of their game when it comes to jerky.



The Categories:

Non-Spicy Beef Jerky - You can use any marinade or seasoning you like as long as it is not spicy. This category will include Teriyaki, BBQ or any non-spicy marinade.

Spicy Beef Jerky - This category is for all you spicy jerky makers. You may use any spice or level of spiciness as long as it does not contain chile pepper extract. Judges will be looking for great flavor as well as heat.

Extract Beef Jerky - This is an award that will be given to the best tasting jerky that uses extract. Any type of marinade can be used here as long as there is chile pepper extract in the jerky. A few of our expert judges can handle the heat, so let's see if we can burn them...

Unique - Notice we said "unique". There will be no beef used in this category. You may use any other meat...fish, poultry, venison or whatever...get the idea? As long as it's not beef. Be creative!

There will be one winner for each category. Since there are four categories, each category winner will win a cash prize and a trophy, and will be entered into the chance to win the Grand Prize and be crowned the Champion of our Jerky Challenge. The Grand Prize winner will receive a brand new Excalibur Dehydrator (cash value of $350.00) along with a cash prize and trophy.

Registration

To register, please e-mail Doug from Peppers and More at doug@peppersandmore.com. The deadline to enter is April 30, 2010.

Sending Jerky

All participants will be required to send one bag of jerky to each of our four judges. All bags should have two nice-sized pieces of jerky.

If you want to send more, that's up to you. After you have paid your registration fee you will be e-mailed the addresses of our four judges.

SPONSORS:

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Microwaveable Sushi

Microwaveable sushi in a box from the grocery store.



http://www.anniechun.com/our-food/sushi-wraps/sticky-white-rice

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Macadamia Nuts with Spam

Only in Hawaii can you find Spam flavored macadamia nuts...



These are from Hamakua Plantations. Funny, I went to their website, and they don't list these as among their products. Perhaps even they, are a little shy to admit that they're responsible for unleashing this into the American snackfood marketplace.

So, do these taste like Spam?

Yup, they sure do! They even have a little bit of that pinkish color to resemble the actual compressed salted-swine floor sweepings.

I found these at an ABC Store in Honolulu, which are everywhere.

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Pollo Campero Launches 505-Calorie Meals

Pollo Campero today introduced a menu of three complete meals with 505 or fewer calories. The promotion will be in stores beginning Jan. 18.

Pollo Campero's new 505-calorie meals include:

• Quarter Grilled Chicken Meal (total calories: 460 to 504)


• one-quarter of a grilled chicken (340 calories)


• an individual side of either Campero beans (160 calories) or black beans and white rice (120 calories)


• water, unsweetened tea or Diet Coke (1 to 4 calories)


• Grilled Chicken Sandwich Meal (total calories: 456 to 460)


• grilled chicken on Cesaro bread with sauce, lettuce and tomato (336 calories)


• an individual side of black beans and white rice (120 calories)


• water, unsweetened tea or Diet Coke (1 to 4 calories)


• Grilled Chicken Bowl (total calories: 445 to 449)


• filled with grilled chicken, Campero rice and beans, and pico de gallo


• water, unsweetened tea or Diet Coke (1 to 4 calories)

"We're taking healthy eating a big step forward by offering our customers three fast, complete, low-calorie meals," said Roberto Denegri, Campero USA president and chief operating officer. "These meals feature our signature Latin chicken, plus our unique and delicious sides. They may be low in calories, but they are full of the same fantastic ingredients and Campero flavor our customers have always enjoyed."

Pollo Campero launched its first restaurant in the United States in 2002. For years prior to that, visitors to Latin America were known to stuff their carry-on luggage with Campero chicken for the flight home. As stores have opened in new cities like Los Angeles and Boston, Pollo Campero fans have lined up for hours to experience their first taste of Latin chicken on U.S. soil.

Campero's chicken is marinated with lime and orange juice, red bell peppers, and a proprietary blend of Latin herbs and spices. Side dishes include a mix of Latin and traditional American dishes, including Campero beans, black beans and white rice, yuca fries, sweet plantains, cole slaw, french fries and mashed potatoes. Customers can choose from soft drinks, iced tea or specialty Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo.

The world's largest Latin chicken restaurant chain, Pollo Campero serves more than 85 million customers each year at more than 300 restaurants in 12 countries around the globe. This includes more than 50 locations already open in the United States, with additional stores slated for this year. For more information, visit www.campero.com.

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Haagen-Dazs Cranberry Blueberry Sorbet - Review

I'm having this pint of Haagen-Dazs Cranberry Blueberry Sorbet.

I've been migrating over to the sorbets lately, mostly because it's fat-free. It seems I'm still a junk food junkie, but one that's put focus on slimming down.

Anyways, last month I said I was eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's "Berried Treasure" sorbet, which is comparable to this in that theirs has Blueberry & Blackberry swrils in a lemon-sorbet base.

This Haagen-Dazs, on the other hand, still uses lemon, and as a result has the same tanginess as the Ben & Jerry's. The difference is that the cranberry & blueberry are blended into the lemon, and not swirled. The result is an even taste all throughout the pint.

The verdict?

Well. I think I prefer the Ben & Jerry's. I mean, both brands effectively have the same lemon tanginess with the berry flavors, except the Ben & Jerry's, by using swirled berries, tends to provide some flavor variation. That is. sometimes you get mostly lemon, sometimes you get mostly berries, sometimes both.

The Haagen-Dazs is still yummy, but if I had to be stuck on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific, and could only choose between one brand, I'd go for the "Berried Treasure", and no pun intended.

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Peanut Butter & Jerky Tortilla

PB&J = Peanut butter & jerkey, originally uploaded by xcdave.

I found this photo on Flickr today, showing someone eating beef jerky with peanut butter, on a flour tortilla...

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Lucille's Onion Ring Quesadilla

It seems lately the quesadilla has become my favorite method of consuming leftovers.

I'll take whatever leftovers we have in the fridge, and dump it into a cheese-filled tortilla, and then nuke it for 1 minute. It helps to dab some Cholula sauce in there too.

In this case, we had a box of onion rings from Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que. It's a chain of restaurants in California, Arizona, and Nevada. They have these thinly sliced onion rings, made from red onions, as appetizers. It's comparable to the "Bloomin' Onion" that you get at Outback Steakhouse and other steak joints.

The photo below depicts what I created...


Except after I took the photo, I added another layer of cheese. Then I nuked it for 1 minute.

How did it taste?

It's "ok".

Truthfully, I really didn't know how this was going to taste. I think I put too much cheese on it, because I taste more of the cheese than anything else. And the Cholula sauce was "ok". It would have been better to use BBQ sauce.

This would have actually been better with some thin sliced steak.

So what do you junkfoodies think about the quesadilla as a vehicle for consuming leftovers?

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Ben & Jerry's Berried Treasure Sorbet

Eating this Ben & Jerry's "Berried Treasure" sorbet right now...


Overall it's tasty.

It's basically a lemon sorbet, and a tangy one at that. But it has swirls of blueberry and blackberry that provide some fruity contrast.

However, the tangy lemon sorbet still provides the more dominant flavor.

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Haagen-Dazs Orchard Peach Sorbet

Eating right now...


Haagen-Dazs "Orchard Peach" sorbet.

Tastes very much like peaches. Kinda like the peaches you get from a can, in light syrup.

It's fat-free, but still with 33g of carbs, or 132g for the whole pint.

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MaggieMoo's Launches New Flavors

MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery has unveiled three new ice cream combinations and three new smoothie flavors that it will offer as part of its Destination Delicious summer promotion...

New Zoomers Fresh Smoothies

• Iced Cream Coffee


• Pineapple Coconut Colada


• Peach Orange Blossom

New Ice Cream Combinations

• June 3 - Blueberry Muffin in the Morning -- Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream, Blueberries, Teddy Grahams and Mallow Creme Topping


• July 1 - Brownie Bliss -- Brownie Batter Ice Cream, Brownies, Chocolate Sprinkles and Fudge Topping


• August 5 - Cravin' Rum Raisin -- Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Raisins, Coconut Flakes and Caramel Topping

MaggieMoo's was recently awarded four Ice Cream Retailer Association Awards, including two blue ribbons, for its ice cream based on color, texture, taste and other factors that determine the quality of the product.

The brand also claims to have invented the very first ice cream cupcake.

MaggieMoo's has some 200 locations across the USA. Find a location near you..

http://www.maggiemoos.com

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