The Impulsive Buy

  • SPOTTED ON SHELVES (SEASONAL EDITION) – 12/11/2013

    Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

    Flipz Gingerbread

    Flipz Peppermint

    It’s about flippin’ time there’s Gingerbread and Peppermint Flipz. (Spotted by Margaret at Food Imporium.)

    Popcorn, Indiana Hot Cinnamon Popcorn and White Fudge Hot Cinnamon Drizzlecorn

    Devil popcorn! Here’s a Hot Cinnamon Popcorn review.
    (Spotted by Sylvia at Whole Foods.)

    Dum-Dum Holiday Pops

    Let’s see. Merry Cherry, Sugar Plum, Hot Chocolate, Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Apple Cider, Green Apple Grinch, and Polar Punch, but no Egg Nog? Better see that next year, Dum-Dums. (Spotted by Diane at Walgreens.)

    Samuel Adams Winter Favorites 2013

    Wow. There sure are a lot of beer blogs. And many of them tell me that the Juniper IPA and Cherry Chocolate Bock are new additions to the Samuel Adams Winter Favorites, which was previously called, Winter Classics…which I also learned from the many beer blogs I came across. (Spotted by Kelly at Target.)

    Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

  • REVIEW: Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt

    Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt

    CHRISTMAS CHICKEN SANDWICH!!!

    That’s what I would like to call Jack in the Box’s Fajita Ranch Melt.

    If you look at the sandwich’s promotional photo, it screams, “CHRISTMAS!” It has red and green bell peppers, white ranch sauce, red taco sauce, white pepper jack cheese, white onions, and seasoned chicken in between a toasted sourdough bun. Seeing those colors together makes me want to sing 80s Christmas songs.

    Last Christmas
    I gave you my heart
    But the very next day you gave it away.
    This year
    To save me from tears
    I’ll give it to someone special.

    However, in real life, the Fajita Ranch Melt doesn’t look as festive. If Jack in the Box didn’t already have a sandwich called the Hot Mess, I would’ve called this new one a hot mess. Instead, I’m going to have to say it’s messy.

    Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt Topless

    It’s messy mostly because of the sourdough bun, which barely stayed intact as my mouth made its way through the sandwich. Wait. Did I say, “sourdough bun”? I meant to say, “ranch and taco sauce sponge.” Too bad the bun wasn’t also a bell pepper and onion sponge because that would’ve prevented the veggies from falling out.

    For those of you familiar with Jack in the Box, you may know they offer a Chicken Fajita Pita, which is one of their “Healthy Dining Choices.” The Fajita Ranch Melt is what I wish the Chicken Fajita Pita would taste like and is nowhere close to being a “Healthy Dining Choice,” which is obvious since it has buttered buns and a creamy ranch sauce.

    Speaking of the ranch sauce, it was hard for my taste buds to notice it because they were distracted by the slightly spicy taco sauce, which I didn’t mind. Surprisingly, the sauces were light enough that I could taste the ever-falling, slightly crunchy bell peppers and onions that I had to regularly stuff back into the sandwich. The easy-to-chew seasoned chicken was more like salty chicken, but the veggies, taco sauce, and melted pepper jack cheese did a great job of masking the chicken’s saltiness.

    Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt Clucking Delicious

    But was the Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt “Clucking Delicious”?

    Yes, it clucking was. It made my taste buds happy. But it would’ve been clucking better if it was called the Jack in the Box Christmas Chicken Sandwich.

    (Nutrition Facts – 579 calories, 288 calories from fat, 32 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 88 milligrams of cholesterol, 1658 milligrams of sodium, 357 milligrams of potassium, 47 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 32 grams of protein.)

    Item: Jack in the Box Fajita Ranch Melt
    Purchased Price: $4.99*
    Size: N/A
    Purchased at: Jack in the Box
    Rating: 7 out of 10
    Pros: Great flavor. Taco sauce was a tasty addition. Promotional picture looks like Christmas in a bun. Bell peppers and onions surprisingly provided flavor and texture. 80s Christmas songs.
    Cons: Ranch sauce wasn’t noticeable. Salty chicken. Messy sandwich. Only available in California, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Not as heart healthy as Jack’s Chicken Fajita Pita. It’s not called the Christmas Chicken Sandwich.

    *Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay $3.99.

  • FAST FOOD FIVE – 12/10/2013

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    Here are five recent fast food news bites:

    I thought Pizza Hut’s Crazy Cheesy Crust Pizza wasn’t very crazy and I feel the same about this Pizza Hut pizza in Puerto Rico. (via Brand Eating)

    WHAT?! Jack in the Box’s new Jalapeño BBQ Burger is not available in California, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah? I guess I’m going to have to get some spicy trans fat somewhere else. (via Business Wire)

    Popeyes Spicy Cajun Wings are back! And I’m going to eat them when the Popeyes down the street opens, which was supposed to happen in September. The opening got pushed back to November, but here we are in December and it still doesn’t look like it’s ready to open. (via Grub Grade)

    Missed opportunity, Checkers! Your Fry-Seasoned Monsterella Stix would’ve been an appropriately named product in October. (via Grub Grade)

    Every Monday this month is #MondayBunday at Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. If you buy one original Six Dollar Thickburger from Carl’s Jr. or a 1/3 lb. Original Thickburger from Hardee’s on a Fresh Baked Bun, you can get a second one for free! The coupons are available only on Mondays from the Carl’s Jr. the Hardee’s websites. (via Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s)

  • QUICK REVIEW: Marie Callender’s Mini Carrot Cakes

    Marie Callender's Mini Carrot Cakes

    Purchased Price: $2.50
    Size: Two cakes
    Purchased at: Market Basket
    Rating: 7 out of 10
    Pros: Definitely better thawed than microwaved. Gentle carrot cake smell and fairly complex flavor. Sweet icing and fun spongy texture. Occasional carrot shreds. Less saturated fat than the Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies
    Cons: The size of a small cupcake. Unexpected walnuts that I mistook for raisins on first glance. Frosting might slide off during heating. Heating leads to inconsistent temperature. Less filling when heated. Having to wait for it to thaw for a better experience. Strange yellow chunk of… carrot?

    Marie Callenders Mini Carrot Cakes Before Microwave

    Nutrition Facts: 1 cake – 300 calories, 130 calories from fat, 15 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 35 milligrams of cholesterol, 360 milligrams of sodium, 85 milligrams of potassium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fiber, 25 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein, 30% vitamin A, 2% calcium, and 4% iron.

  • SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 12/9/2013

    Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

    Tostitos Fajita Scoops!

    These Tostitos Fajita Scoops are made using red peppers, green peppers, jalapeño peppers, and soy sauce. Yes, the popular condiment found on every table at every Mexican restaurant, soy sauce. By the way, does anyone else make tiny taco salads with Tostitos Scoops? (Spotted by Steve at Jewel.)

    Progresso Bread Crumb Mixers

    “Mix Up Your Dinner Routine!” Well, if I really wanted to mix up my dinner routine, it would probably be something that doesn’t comes from a sealed bag. Yes, I eat a lot of dinners from sealed bags. (Spotted by Charmi at Don Quijote.)

    Goldfish Games

    Well, this looks like it could end up being unsanitary. Also, there are already games one can play with Goldfish crackers, like How Many Goldfish Crackers Can I Stuff Into My Mouth? (Spotted by Sylvia at Vons.)

    Classico Limited Edition Seasonal Selections Bolognese Meat Sauce

    Welcome back, Limited Edition Classico Seasonal Selections Creamy Spinach & Parmesan! It looks like you brought a friend with a slightly shorter name. Welcome, Limited Edition Classico Seasonal Selections Bolognese! (Spotted by Kim at Walmart.)

    Safeway Select Double Dark Chocolate Gelato

    Thank goodness Safeway is now including “New” on their new product packaging. Santa does exist! (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

    Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.