Golden Girl Granola: Small Batch Granola Artisanal Crunch Flavor Review

Golden Girl Original Granola

I think I have tried every granola brand on the market based on the selection in every major grocery store in a 20-mile direction. It wasn't until 2 years ago when I found the one that my wife and I love, Golden Girl Granola.

Of course, this is not to be confused with the great sitcom, Golden Girls, or the lighthearted fast talking drama with a slightly different name, Gilmore Girls. But more on Golden Girl Granola in a bit. Let me share with you how we got here.

If you know me by now, I am a big fan of products that are made in small batches that can only be produced by individuals or small businesses. These products are made with love and care and you can taste it in every bite. Similar stories include Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate Review: The Intersection of Art and Flavor and Smugglers Notch Maple Works Review: Elevating Breakfast With Wood Fired Flavor to name a few.

When I first met Mary Beth, she lived in the area of MetroWest Massachusetts, which is about 40 miles west of Boston. If you talk to someone in Boston, you would think we live in Ohio based on how far they believe it is outside of the city, but the reality is its only an hour drive to get to into town. Yup, people from Boston refer to their city as town, like Beantown. Very opposite from where I grew up in New Jersey where we referred to New York City as "the city".

Not far from where Mary Beth lived was a discount retail store called Spag's. This store was a destination for so many people in the area to get a wide range of products from hardware to deodorant, all at great prices. I think I made the visit to the store once or twice over the years before it was sold and then ultimately out of business. The store was empty for a few years to the best of my recollection. Back to Spag's and the location further down in the story.

https://youtu.be/GLq-fEXPSek?si=SWsQigzz8z_d3HiU

News story from the local ABC affiliate in Boston on Golden Girl Granola

Mary Beth and I got married in 1998 and then in 2000 moved up to Grafton, MA. We initially put a $1,000 deposit on an attached condo in Shrewsbury MA, actually not far at all from the original Spag's location. It turned out that the condo design we wanted was not available in the location we picked as they were building the condos. As a result, we backed out and started looking again.

One of my thoughts was to look for a house not far from a grocery store, Stop & Shop, a store with a good reputation. I figured if they selected an area to put their stores, it was already a good location for Mary Beth and I to plant our roots. As we started looking, there was an open house in Grafton, MA and we wound up buying our first house. If you are curious, it was about 1 mile from Stop & Shop, so my approach worked.

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Life will take you down many windy paths. As you meander along, you will find unexpected treasures. Keep your eyes open for what is possible."

Stop & Shop was our go to place to shop for many years and then the area where we lived really started to grow. The headquarters of Staples and EMC (which was sold to Dell) brought in an influx of people to the area. With the population growth also came new grocery stores. Initially, it was Wegmans, which had a cult following in the east coast and had 25,000 people shop in the first weekend. We made it the second weekend. Then after that was Market32, a division of Price Chopper. Both Matthew and Michael worked at Market32 during high school and college.

The last big store to arrive was Whole Foods, which found a home in the old location of Spag's. I know many of you, at least here in the United States, knows about Whole Foods and the good quality they offer. The other thing that Whole Foods does a really nice job with is to honor the location that it is moving into. If it was previously a historic bank, it would try to keep some of that theme. In the case of Spag's, there is a homage to Spag's across one of the walls, which is a really nice touch to make a very big chain feel a bit more local and personal.

Small Batch Granola

Based on the 4 different grocery store chains I referenced above, along with a few independent stores and a few farmers markets, we tried just about every granola around. It wasn't until my 3rd or 4th try at Whole Foods when I landed on the small batch granola from Golden Girl Granola. Whole Foods has a few of their 7 varieties including the Original, Forest Maple, Chocolate Decadence, and Home Sweet Honey. We have tried them all and love every one of them.

Golden Girl Forest Maple Granola

Mary Beth often puts the granola in her yogurt and I typically eat it plain as a snack in the afternoon or as a topping in my Acai bowl. It wasn't until I went on their website where I found they have 7 different varieties including one I would still like to try, Blueberry.

I was also very excited to see that they also sell their granola at a few local farms. Mary Beth and I made a trip a few weeks ago to Lilac Hedge Farm in Rutland, MA for ice cream. We picked the location because it also had a little shop to buy things like eggs and their own meats. Golden Girl Granola was on their shelves as well and we picked up a few while we were there.

As an aside, I was just thinking about the pictures I will be taking to share as a part of this post. To give you a sense of what is actually inside the bag, I will be putting it in a small dish and taking pictures. The problem is we usually only open one bag at a time and now I will be opening up 4 at once. I guess I will be eating a lot of granola in the next few weeks!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many varieties does Golden Girl Granola offer?

Currently, Golden Girl Granola offers 7 varieties including Original, Chocolate Decadence, Home Sweet Honey, Forest Maple, Blueberry, Creative Cranberry, and Truly Tropical

Where did the idea of their logo come from?

The logo image of the little girl with pigtails was created by their oldest daughter, Jacquie and a childhood love of Pippi Longstocking.

Is the granola handmade?

Yes, each batch of granola is hand measured and baked with love from the mother/daughter duo of Deborah & Jacquie

Start Your Own Granola Sensory Experience

If you are looking to upgrade your snacking experience, Golden Girl Granola will satisfy your cravings and elevate your sensory experience. Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Superior Nut Company: An Elevated Snacking Experience

Here is a collection of some of my Superior Nut company 4lb bags of nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Salted Mixed Nuts, and Brazil Nuts).

About 25 years ago, I was leading a small sales team outside of Boston. During the holidays, the team and I would package up and share some gifts of appreciation.

Spoiler, these gifts weren't the elevated snacking experience from Superior Nut Company, but I will get to that in a minute.

We didn't have a lot of discretionary budget to use, so for the local clients we purchased some homemade cinnamon swirl bread from a bakery not far from our office in Lexington, MA. There was nothing like buying 10 loaves of freshly baked cinnamon bread and having the car smell warm and cozy.

Salted Brazil Nuts are a daily staple for Mary Beth and me.

For the clients that were a bit further away, we sent them a 2lb block of chocolate from a well-known brand you would find in your local supermarket. The blocks of chocolate needed to be special ordered as you can imagine but the reaction we would get from the customers was always the same, which was the following "it was memorable and way too much to eat alone".

By this time, I was in my late 20's and well indoctrinated into Mary Beth's family, having been married for a few years and dating since we were 19. Her dad used to do something different for gifting during the holidays. Every year, he would go to the local nut store and buy a massive amount of salted cashews or mixed nuts and drive all over New England giving them to his clients. Mary Beth and I even got a tin of nuts every year for the holidays.

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Don't let the stubborn pistachios shells ruin your experience. Instead of using your fingers, open it with another shell, using it as a wedge between the nut and the shell. Your fingers and your patience will appreciate it."

As well, whenever Mary Beth and I would go to her parents' house, which was just 1 town away, there would always be nuts on the counter for us to snack on. I never really gave it much thought over the years, and while I ate nuts, it wasn't a staple in my daily diet. As a result, when we did buy nuts over the years, the purchases were from random locations with no real intention.

At least once or twice a week, I eat walnuts in the morning, as well as on pancakes and waffles.

We first started buying our nuts at the local supermarket, probably some of the brand names that they sell at the eye level of the shelves, and didn't think much of it, especially since we didn't eat many of them. Over time, initially when Wegman's Food Stores opened up in the area, and then again with Whole Foods, they had the bins of nuts and seeds for individuals to self-service, with the periodic overflow of the container when I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been (I know I am not the only one who did this).

Mary Beth and I used the self-service bins for a few years, especially as our eating habits were changing for the better. This lasted up until Covid when the food stores eliminated the self-service capabilities at the time (they have since reinstated them).

However, with the lack of self-service capabilities and our taste buds changing for a better tasting nut, we couldn't go back to the store-bought nuts. They just didn't taste as fresh, nor did they have the same flavor profile. As a result, we had to find somewhere new to source our nuts.

The Superior Nut Company Comeback

I had to ask Mary Beth what the name of the company was that her dad used to buy his nuts from. She mentioned it was the Superior Nut Company based out of Cambridge, MA. Since my father-in-law used to work it Boston, it was a simple, quick trip over the Charles River to Cambridge to pick up his nuts every holiday season. For me, while Cambridge is only an hour a way, I have opted to use their website to order.

As a side note, I did find out that Mary Beth's cousins not only still purchase from Superior Nut Company in person (and have for so many years), but they also buy in massive bulk and store it in their second freezers to last the year.

Raisins are great standalone, mixed in with oats and bananas, and combined with cashews.

An Elevated Snacking Experience

Today, I find myself ordering every few months as Mary Beth, Matthew, and I all eat nuts on a regular basis. Mary Beth and Matthew like the salted mixed nuts and the salted Brazil Nuts. Michael eats nuts once in a while as does Emma, which are usually Pistachios and peanuts.

While I will eat those as well, I usually rotate a daily morning snack of cashews, almonds, and walnuts (all unsalted). We also have a rotation of California Pistachios and on occasion, I will purchase the Turkish Antep Pistachios, which are out of this world delicious and an elevated snacking experience. I have also been buying their raisins which are fantastic as well.

I also found a recipe for candied walnuts. It took me a few different recipes to find one that actually works the way I was expecting it to (you know, the one you buy at the local corner store or farmers market that tastes so good). All prior attempts didn't have the egg white which is the key to getting everything to stick to the walnut but not have the walnuts stick to each other.

The recipe is from Sugar Spun Run. What made the candied walnuts standout was the combination of everything I have been sharing so far with ingredients from my prior stories.

• 1 egg white (local or pasture raised are the best in my opinion)

• Water

• Vanilla extract (I will have a future post on this but to give you a preview, I order from the Vanilla Company

• Walnuts

• Sugar from Burlap & Barrel

• Cinnamon also from Burlap & Barrel

• Salt from Slack Tide Maine

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Superior Nut Company have a sister website with a different name?

Yes, you can also order through NutsinBulk. It is the same exact offering from what I can tell.

Can you pick up your nut order in person in their Cambridge, MA store?

Yes, when ordering, you have the option to have it shipped or be available for pickup.

How are Turkish Antep Pistachios different from California Pistachios

Turkish Antep Pistachios are more flavorful and have a more intense buttery taste.

Are Turkish Antep Pistachios more expensive than California Pistachios?

Yes, probably by a factor of 2 - 2.5x the cost but the flavor profile makes up for the cost increase.

Start Your Own Nut Sensory Experience

If you are looking to upgrade your snacking experience, Superior Nut Company will satisfy your cravings and elevate your sensory experience. Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Experience the Kauai White Pineapple A Sweet Sensory Revelation

Did you ever eat the core of a pineapple? OK, more on that later.

Growing up, I wasn't the best eater, especially with my vegetables. Plus, I ate with my eyes, as so many kids (and some adults do). Things that I absolutely love now like sweet potatoes, asparagus, and beans I would stick my nose up before even seeing, smelling, or tasting those foods (maybe if they were mixed with a Kauai White Pineapple, I might have ate more of my vegetables)!

Wailua Falls, Kauai. On our first day, we drove around and these falls were visible from just off the road with ample parking and a very short walk and see the majestic nature of the falls.

I was also pretty picky about entire classes of foods like Indian, which I didn't start eating until about 10 years ago or sushi, which I will try here and there, although I am not an expert on either cuisine by any means.

One thing I was pretty good at eating was fruit. I loved oranges, bananas, grapes, watermelon, apples and pineapples. As I think back, I probably ate fruit 3-5 times a week as a kid. Now, its every day, and usually a few times a day.

Our First Family Trip to Hawaii

Mary Beth and I went on our honeymoon to 3 islands (Maui, Kauai, and Lanai) in Hawaii 27 years ago and then once again to Maui for a company trip about 10 years ago. We wanted to have the kids see Hawaii but wanted to try a few different islands. We opted for Oahu and The Big Island of Hawaii. Michael was an avid historian of WWII so we made a trip to Pearl Harbor but outside of that, we weren't too impressed with Oahu and probably wouldn't go back. It was a bit too commercialized for what we desire for a family vacation.

During our trip to The Big Island, we got to do some amazing things like stargazing but couldn't see the volcanos as it was active just before we arrived and they cancelled the tours that that part of the island.

Wailua River State Park, Kauai. This was our trip to the "hidden waterfall" which isn't so hidden anymore. I took this picture during our hike in.

One of the special things we tried while we were there was a White Pineapple. I had never heard of white pineapples before but here is a summary. They are delicious and so much tastier and juicer than their traditional gold counterparts. They are also about 4x more expensive but worth every penny. We had bought a second one while we were there but that was it and I missed it ever since.

Our Second Family Trip to Hawaii

I have shared on a few posts including Kauai Chocolate Farm Tour Review: Lydgate Farms Sensory Guide as well as my About section, where I discuss our second family trip to Hawaii, this time where we spent 8 days in Kauai this past summer.

This was such an inspiring trip for me. It was two weeks past being laid off from my company (which it was time as I had been there for 17 years), and coming out of the Cacao Farm tour, it initiated the start of this website. I intentionally let my mind wander, not having to worry about work, and knowing that at some point, I will secure a new job; I dove into being present in the moment. We adventured to tour the Napali coast, ate at a Waffle Food Truck multiple times called, Aloha Liege Waffles & Espresso, and did a rum tour with KAUAI SAFARIS, which was independent from Koloa Rum, which they leveraged their property. All were amazing.

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Local farmers, near and far, grow amazing produce, made with love and care that will elevate your sensory experience."

Kauai White Pineapple

During this trip, we visited 4 different farmers markets in the 8 days. One of them, on the Saturday we were there, was the big one where there were about 100 local vendors. We made our first pass of the market just looking around and Emma started walking to the car. We said come back; we are just getting started. Farmers Markets are like Christmas to us. We went around and bought some local salt, local fruits and vegetables, some local honey, and lastly, I saved room for some White Pineapple from Kauai Sugarloaf.

Sadly, this is my only picture of what was left of the Pineapple. We didn't take any pictures of the pineapples, or the farm stands themselves.

The line for the White Pineapples were 20 people deep. They were not only selling whole pineapples, but they were also offering to cut the pineapples for you and give you a Ziploc bag full of goodness. They were offering tastings, which of course I took advantage of, and then we made our purchase of two pineapples.

We ate the pineapples throughout the week and picked up another one at another farmers market later in the week from Kauai Sugarloaf.

Don't get me wrong, I love regular pineapples and eat them all the time, including one in my refrigerator right now. The problem with the pineapples I get from the store, is that they are hit or miss on flavor. I have tried all different strategies to pick the right version, such as picking the leaves off and the ones that come off easy are ripe, or smelling the bottoms, which I am sure I look ridiculous if you see me in the grocery store.

Here is what makes the white pineapples so special. white pineapples are so much more flavorful than their store-bought gold counterparts. If I had to put a number on it, I would say that white pineapples are 100x more flavorful. They are also so much juicier. And as I posed the question in the beginning, you can eat the core, which you can't do for a store-bought pineapple.

Eating a white pineapple, elevates the sensory experience, bringing happiness to everyone who tries them!

With all of this goodness, there is a downside unfortunately, and that is the cost. They are about four times more expensive than a regular pineapple but so worth it. Here is my recommendation. If you are in Hawaii, especially Kauai where their farm is, take advantage of being local. They also offer tours, which we didn't get a chance to do but will offer a link at the bottom if you are interested.

https://youtu.be/1x1uAVwmXv0?si=84afxhWWrZC4BwgA

Learn about the Kauai Sugarloaf and why Jude and Paul Huber share their love and care to make a delicious white pineapple.

If you are home and want to taste this goodness, they do ship FedEx. Obviously shipping food 2-day FedEx air is expensive but can be worth it for a special occasion. I will drop the link below as well.

For the history buffs, we got a small bit of history while we were there which was that White and Gold Pineapples were grown at the same time but Dole, the major manufacturer at the time in Hawaii, couldn't process the white pineapples as effectively. As a result, they pretty much just abandoned the white pineapples to focus on gold. This left the local Kauai farming community to produce and sell it locally themselves...which I am so glad they did.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you eat the core of a white pineapple?

Yes, the core is edible unlike that of its relative, the yellow or gold pineapple.

Do other Hawaiian Islands other than Kauai sell white pineapples?

Yes, they are typically grown in Kauai and The Big Island but you may find them available for sale at local farmers markets across the Hawaiian Islands.

Are white pineapples juicier and more flavorful than their yellow and gold counterparts?

Yes! I would say white pineapples are 100 times better than their yellow and gold counterparts.

Start Your Own White Pineapple Sensory Experience

If you’re curious to start your own white pineapple sensory experience as well as thinking about visiting Kauai, I’ve listed my favorite options below. Give one a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments!