FEBRUARY 2021 | Volume 9 | Issue 1
DruidCityLiving.com
Tuscaloosa’s Premier Community Newspaper
LIFE LESSONS: SETTLING CONFLICTS AND NURTURING FRIENDSHIPS, PREK PALS STYLE
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE About Us...............2 Schools...........8 City.......................3 Community.......6 Opinion..............10 Food...................14 Business...............4 Business...............5
@DruidCityLiving
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Celebrating Valentine’s Day During a Pandemic
UFO spotted in Tuscaloosa? It Really Happened
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YMCA Awards: Honoring Distinguished Community Members
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Kick Back and Relax with this Candy Bar Martini
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Druid City Living | February 2021
ABOUT US PHOTO OF THE MONTH CEO
Josh Watkins
Publisher
Hanson Watkins
Editor
Laurie Mundy Perrigin editor@druidcitymedia.com
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On Jan. 8, ground was officially broken for a new outdoor classroom for students at Central Elementary School. Dr. Strickland, professor at the University of Alabama charitable foundation, helped Central get closer to the $50,000 it needs to complete the project, by donating $15,000. The outdoor classroom at Central Elementary School will help support students during the pandemic with social and emotional learning. The school will continue to write grants and ask for charitable donations until the project’s goal is met. Central Elementary Principal Dr. Jerry Collins was on hand, as well as teachers and staff, as ground was broken.
For advertising inquiries, contact us at Jim Watkins at 205.937.0180 or email jrw2445x@yahoo.com Legal: Druid City Living (DCL) is published monthly. Reproduction or use of graphical content without prior permission is prohibited. DCL is designed to inform the readers regarding community news and events. Information is gathered from sources that are considered reliable, however the accuracy is not guaranteed. All articles, photos, etc. submitted become the property of DCL. We reserve the right to edit as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish any material. Any inaccuracies should be brought to the attention of the editor.
CORRECTIONS To report corrections and clarifications, email editor@druidcitymedia.com
Photo: Tuscaloosa City Schools
FROM THE EDITOR Hi readers. I hope all of you are well. Many of us (myself included) are short-tempered, restless, anxious, and generally irritable. We’re worried about sick loved ones. We’re worried about our jobs. We’re worried about the future. And yep, there are times when this anxiety leads us to be (in my mom’s terms) “pretty snippy.” There will always be times when we don’t agree. Conflicts will happen, and they may be happening more than ever right now. That’s why when Alicia Jenne’ told me her idea for this month’s PreK Pals column, I was particularly excited. It’s about friendships, conflicts, and how these wonderful youngsters work things out. I took their wisdom to heart, and I suspect you will too. To our health care workers, first responders, front line essential workers, teachers, and everyone who is trying to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic – thank you for everything. We may be snippy sometimes, but we appreciate everything you do. Best, Laurie
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CITY
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Mayor’s Minute I am writing the Mayor’s Minute for February on the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day. The last nine months have been hard, and we all have lost something. The loss may be as minor as a missed opportunity or as catastrophic as losing a job, a business, or someone we loved. It is in this moment that Dr. King’s call to action – a call to our conscience – resonates when he stated that, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I believe Tuscaloosa has been steadfast, from COVID-19 to the civil unrest of this past summer.
In fact, we have grown stronger with a more fierce determination, especially for the underserved youth in our community.
I am passionate about the importance of youth sports and outreach. I grew up playing soccer and football in our city and went on to play football in college. I coach my son Eli’s flag football team, and nothing has brought me greater joy than watching them grow and learn to work together as a team. As most of you know, the Benjamin Barnes YMCA is a pillar in our community that has provided these same opportunities for kids in West Tuscaloosa since the 1950s. However, over the past decade, the Benjamin Barnes YMCA has begun to suffer hardships that jeopardizes its existence. It is important to note that many of those hardships were beyond its control. The thought of losing Benjamin Barnes’ programs is unacceptable, and thankfully, so many in the community and on the council agree with that sentiment. Over the past few months, the YMCA leadership team and the city council were able to forge a partnership that will not only keep delivering services, but open the door for a new Benjamin Barnes YMCA. I love Tuscaloosa with my heart and soul, and it is inspiring to see us come together for one purpose – our next generation! The last few months have not been comfortable, but I am proud to say that we are meeting the challenge.
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Druid City Living | February 2021
CITY Mayor Maddox Presents YMCA Awards to Distinguished Community Members BY DCL STAFF
Photo: City of Tuscaloosa
Mayor Walt Maddox joined the Benjamin Barnes YMCA on Sunday, Jan. 17 to present awards to distinguished community members that have made an impact on the YMCA and West Tuscaloosa this year. This annual event is hosted on the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to kick off the YMCA’s Youth First Campaign. This year’s honorees are: • Mason Bonner received the Lifetime of Service Award. A former president of the Y Men’s Club and a lifetime member of the Benjamin Barnes YMCA, Mr. Bonner organized and ran a youth basketball program over the last two years, serving over 180 youth in West Tuscaloosa in 2019 alone. • Paul Rollins and Rodney Pelt received the Trailblazer award. When the Barnes YMCA partnered with the Tuscaloosa City Schools over the summer to offer virtual learning and meals to students, Mr. Rollins and Mr. Pelt donated their time and money to ensure the success of this operation. Additionally, the following community members were recognized for their commitment to, and support of, the YMCA: • Kerri Ash • Freddy Washington • Ashley Wheat • Danielle Eaton • Shae Byrd • Raytonya Hughes • Bishop L Spenser Smith “I am honored to join the YMCA in recognizing these outstanding community members for their service to our West Tuscaloosa community,” Mayor Maddox said. “These community members turned their focus to their community during this challenging year, and it is fitting to honor them on this weekend devoted to Rev. Dr. King.”
Mason Bonner received the Lifetime of Service Award from Mayor Walt Maddox on Jan. 17.
On Jan. 12, The Tuscaloosa City Council unanimously voted to acquire the Benjamin Barnes YMCA facility as well as the downtown YMCA location, forging a partnership between the two entities that will allow the Barnes branch to continue serving West Tuscaloosa while working to build a new facility. “The greatness of a community is best measured by the compassion, dedication, and servitude of its members,” Tanika Rice, Chair of the Benjamin Barnes Advisory Council said. “We will honor these members for their advocacy, commitment, and bravery in continuing the mission of the 14 members who organized and built the Benjamin Barnes YMCA 60 years ago. Barnes was built by the community, for the community. We will continue this legacy of responsibility.”
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BUSINESS Druid City Living Business Happenings February 2021 NOW OPEN & OPENING SOON Planet Fitness opened its first location in Northport in December 2020 in a shopping center next to Northport City Hall that will eventually house a number of new businesses in the area (3380 McFarland Blvd, Ste 1), including Firehouse Subs. Memberships to the gym start at $10. planetfitness.com; (205) 686-6004
NEWS AND HAPPENINGS The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has temporarily closed over 40 ABC stores across the state because of rising COVID-19 cases. Two of those stores are in Tuscaloosa: Store 138 (9770 Hwy 69 South) and Store 183 (4701 University Blvd East). The stores were not expected to reopen until later this month or in early March. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox has named LaShonda Kemp as chief human resources officer for the city. Kemp, a University of Alabama graduate who has been with the city for almost four years, previously served as senior human resources officer and most recently as acting chief human resources officer.
Photo: City of Tuscaloosa
Atlanta-based Mammoth Holdings, a conveyor car wash operator, has acquired two local Fast Trac Express Car Wash businesses – one in Tuscaloosa and another in Northport. Mammoth now has 14 stores in Alabama.
LaShonda Kemp
Five members of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors were recently reappointed by the Tuscaloosa County Commission to fouryear terms: Mark Crews (Alabama Power Company), Norman Crow (DT Freight), Debbie Hughes (IBM Corporation), Gary Minor (PARA), and Tim Parker III (Parker Towing Company). Additionally, Gary Nichols (McAbee Construction) was newly appointed during the Commission meeting on Jan. 6. Business you want to see here? Email us at: editor@druidcitymedia.com
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Druid City Living | February 2021
COMMUNITY Family Counseling Service: Who is Controlling Your Life? BY LARRY DEAVERS As children, we looked at adults and thought, “I can’t wait to be a grown up. I’ll be able to do whatever I want!” What a shock to grow up and find out that our lives are much more regimented than they were when we were children. As a result, it’s almost inevitable that we’ll go through periods where we may feel trapped by it all. It often leads us to wonder, “How did I get here?” or “Why don’t I get to do more of what I want to do?” It is a worthwhile pursuit to question our priorities in life and who we are really aiming to satisfy.
Are you still reacting to people who have hurt you, either in the past or present? When we allow voices of criticism to reside in our minds, they can drive much of what we do and the choices we make. As we examine our lives, we may see many choices that were made, not because it was what we wanted, but because it was an attempt to prove that voice in our head wrong. The problem is that those voices are almost never satisfied with our accomplishments.
Often, those voices we hear are telling us we are not worthy or capable. They insist that when we dare stand up for ourselves and place limits on how others treat us that we should feel guilty for being too self-centered. We may find ourselves daily faced with the choice of allowing others to manipulate us or of berating ourselves with the guilt that comes from denying someone’s request.
When we have a habit of giving in to others to avoid guilt, we usually attract those who are happy to take advantage of our inability to say, “No.” So, who are you allowing to control your decisions? Taking back control involves becoming aware of how much of your decision making is driven by those critical messages from your past and your current beliefs about your self-worth. Once you become aware of them, you can recognize and challenge those self-destructive beliefs. Through consistency and focus, you can begin to take back that control and silence at least some of those messages from the past. It all comes down to your personal determination, but you can do it.
Larry Deavers is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of Family Counseling Service of West Alabama.
Larry Deavers
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COMMUNITY Gov. Kay Ivey Awards Grants to Help Abuse Victims in West Alabama BY DCL STAFF Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $50,000 to a local organization that helps victims of domestic violence escape violent situations and rebuild their lives. In January, Ivey awarded the grant to Turning Point of Tuscaloosa, which serves victims in Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa counties. Another grant was awarded by Gov. Ivey to the Family Resource Center of Northwest Alabama that will enable the Jasper agency to serve victims in Walker County. The grants supplement previous funding awarded by Gov. Ivey to the two agencies.
“Victims do not have to endure situations where their safety and welfare or that of their children are endangered,”
Gov. Ivey said. “These two agencies in west Alabama are equipped with the staff, resources and capabilities to help victims overcome horrific ordeals and rebuild their lives.” Turning Point will use the latest funds to help support a rural counselor, an outreach counselor, and a person to work as an advocate for child victims. The agency also provides free emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, and advocacy. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey and her dedication in seeing that victims receive the services and guidance they need in order to recover from abuse,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
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Druid City Living | February 2021
SCHOOLS
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PreK Pals Ponderings: A Friendly Reminder About Handling Disagreements BY ALICIA JENNE’ In the land of PreK, we use lots of Conscious Discipline strategies. Although it sounds rigid and a little off putting, it is a great set of tools that I wish I would have learned earlier in my career. Conscious Discipline is a “social emotional learning program that aims to modify teacher and child behavior in order to create classrooms based on safety, connection, and problem solving, instead of external rewards and punishments.” That’s a whole lot of big words. What does it all really mean? Teachers trained in Conscious Discipline are empowered to consciously respond to daily conflict, transforming it into an opportunity to teach critical life and problem-solving skills to children. In other words, we don’t say, “Use your words”
Abby Grace
without helping the child learn to verbalize the specific words they need to get their point across. For instance, instead of an empty, “I don’t like that” when there is a problem, we model gently touching the other child on the shoulder, waiting for eye contact, and then stating the specific request. “Sam, I don’t like it when you knock over my blocks. Don’t do that again. It upsets me.” Wouldn’t things in the grown-up world work a lot better if we all just did that?
With all that is going on in the world, the teacher in me wants to have a few serious conversations and modeling sessions with some high-profile adults.
B.S.
I just know things would be a better if communication were handled in the “outside world” the way we take care of disagreements and modeling of good friendships in PreK. This month, I asked some of the PreK Pals to tell me what makes someone a good friend – and what they would do if they had a disagreement with their friend. I hope reading their replies boosts your faith in humanity just a little. Maybe the next time you find yourself not seeing eye to eye with someone in the grown-up world, you’ll be brave like the PreK Pals, and you’ll use your words with confidence.
Claire
• Claire (4) Good friends play together. If my friend wants to play something else, we can take turns, or I can play by myself. • Abby Grace (5) Friends share. But I don’t like it when they take away my toys, and I just tell them that. If we just have one of the toy, then I will give it to my friend when I am finished, or we can share.
Alicia Jenne’
Alicia Jenne’ is a Tuscaloosa mom and a veteran teacher of little people. She is the PreK Pals Lead Teacher for PreK#1 at Rock Quarry Elementary School.
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Charlie
Levie
Wells
• B.S. (4) We can play nice together when we are friends. I will play what they want to play, and then we will play what I want to play. Friends take turns. • Levie (5) When I want to be a friend to others, I use my kind words. I say, “Can I please play with you?” If we have a disagreement, we just talk it out. • Charlie (4) Friends are supposed to be nice together. When my friends play with me, it makes me happy. If you don’t like something, you have to say, “Can you please stop knocking down my tower?” • Wells (4) I love to play with my friends! They are my heart! I love people that are happy and that take turns. If something bothers you – you just have to tell that person ‘zactly what’s wrong.
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Druid City Living | February 2021
OPINION The Mommy Chronicles: A Planner for Your Thoughts BY MARLENA RICE I remember seeing my mother pull out her personal mini calendar to record everything from grocery lists to important dates in her sprawling, cursive handwriting. My mother was organized, never forgot to do anything, and made every school event. Early. As a teacher helper. Kicking butt. All the things. While I must admit I’m a pretty kick butt mom too, there seems to be a bit more of a struggle involved in my success.
Have you ever found yourself planning to plan – without actually completing the plan?
3. Keep your budget in mind. Only you know what you can afford. A less pricey planner doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be useful – and expensive may not mean better. 4. Plan to follow through. This is the hardest part for many of us. But once you’ve invested your time and money in your planner, you may be less likely to let it go to waste.
Marlena Rice is a busy mom and writer who lives in Tuscaloosa with her husband, Rod, and their son, Beaux William.
Guilty. My fix? The mom planner. Here are a few ways to help you decide your planner style to help add more structure, productivity, and sanity to your daily life. 1. Choose according to your personality. Are you all about the business with no frills? A traditional calendar option may be your best fit. If you’re more creative-minded, you may want a nontraditional planner with space for journaling and sticker addons. 2. Think about your lifestyle. How busy are you? What do you need to be more efficient and productive? If you’re a goal setter who likes to cross tasks off as they’re done, focus on planners that center around goal-setting and step-by-step tasking to accomplish said goals.
Photo: Marlena Rice
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COMMUNITY Alabama Armchair Critic: Great Movies for Valentine’s Day BY JERRY ROBERTS It’s February – so it only seems fitting to revisit some classic romantic films. Here are some top picks. Moonstruck (1988) is still a wonderful confection, a sweet love story, and a piece of Italian culture bound up in the pure act of romantic abandon. Cher won an Oscar as Loretta Castorini, a Brooklyn bookkeeper who finds herself in a bind when she agrees to marry the brother of the man who proposed to her. Available on Netflix DVD and Sling. Rocky (1976) is certainly a boxing movie. But take a second look, and you’ll find one of the most touching love stories ever made between a bruised-up boxer and his bashful courtship of a painfully shy girl from the neighborhood. Available on DVD/Blu Ray and Amazon Prime.
Say Anything . . . (1989) is one of those great forgotten gems, starring John Cusack as a well-meaning under achiever who falls in love with Ione Skye, a valedictorian who is on her way to college. It’s a very funny movie about a couple that you grow to love as much as they love each other. Available on DVD/Blu Ray and Amazon Prime. The Philadelphia Story (1940) This comedy of upper-class romance and misunderstanding stars Katherine Hepburn as a rich bride whose upcoming wedding is rocked by the appearance of her ex-husband (Cary Grant) and a nosy reporter looking for a scoop (Jimmy Stewart). Available on HBOMax.
It Happened One Night (1934) became ground zero for the modern romantic comedy, following a rich runaway bride (Claudette Colbert) who goes on the road with a worldly-wise reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable). Available on The Criterion Channel and Amazon Prime. Jerry Roberts is an Alabama movie critic and historian for armchaircinema.com, armchairoscars.com. He has a blog at overthinkingoscar.wordpress.com.
Photo: Jerry Roberts
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Druid City Living | February 2021
COMMUNITY Tales of Tuscaloosa: Unidentified Flying Objects (February 1, 1954) BY JIM EZELL The Oxford English Dictionary states that the term “unidentified flying object” and its acronym “UFO” came into use in the early 1950s as a more general term about what had earlier been called “flying saucers.” During World War II, massive numbers of pilots and airmen served on both sides. Many reported seeing mysterious aerial phenomena both in Europe and the Pacific. The general term “foo fighters” came into use to describe UFOs seen during that period. Fearing enemy secret weapons, the military investigated these sightings, but they remained unexplained After the war, UFO sightings became almost commonplace. In May and December of 1958, the files of Project Blue Book listed sightings of bright objects in the Tuscaloosa area. The Air Force dismissed both as meteors. Later, local reports included nocturnal lights in 1974, a flying disc in 1977 and, in 1978, a glowing metallic object with rotating, colored lights was observed, along with a burst of static radio interference. Photo: Jim Ezell
Since the 1950s, scores of science fiction movies and television shows involving UFOs have been released. They range from major Hollywood productions such as The Day the Earth Stood Still and Close Encounters of the Third Kind to low-budget cult classics such as Devil Girl from Mars and Plan 9 from Outer Space. An artist’s concept of UFOs seen by Naval Research personnel near a high-altitude balloon southwest of Tuscaloosa. At such high altitudes, the sky appears black – even in daytime.
The balloon looked like a gigantic limp laundry bag upon release. Drifting east from a launch site in Texas, it soon climbed to the edge of space—an altitude of nearly 19 miles, or about 100,000 feet. Due to the low atmospheric pressure, the balloon swelled to a near spherical shape while instruments tethered below measured cosmic rays. What began as a routine scientific mission became a mysterious incident that remains unexplained since that Monday, February 1, 1954, in the sky southwest of Tuscaloosa. A Naval Research aircraft carrying observers followed the mission from below. Suddenly, they saw six bright white objects flying around and above the balloon. After about five minutes, the objects ascended vertically until they disappeared. This account was noted in the files of Project Blue Book, a United States Air Force study of unidentified flying objects or UFOs. For as long as humans have watched the sky, they have seen things beyond their experience or prevailing knowledge. The lore of many ancient cultures includes unexplainable aerial phenomena. One of the earliest was detailed in the sixth century BC by the Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel. Although it was said to be part of a vision, some interpret Ezekiel’s description of creatures and wheels being lifted up from the earth as a UFO sighting.
In 1968, the Air Force concluded that after reviewing over 12,000 reports, there was no evidence that UFOs were a threat to national security or that they were of extraterrestrial origin. Furthermore, virtually all UFO sightings could be explained as natural phenomena such as particularly bright meteors, the planet Venus, clouds, refracted light, or flocks of birds. Some of the reports were deemed to be sightings of previously undisclosed secret aircraft such as the U-2 or SR-71. But a few sightings, including the glowing lights surrounding the research balloon near Tuscaloosa in 1954, could not be explained.
Jim Ezell is a retired engineer, historian an author. His novel, Debris Cloud, is an adventure/crime novel set in Tuscaloosa. It is available on Amazon. Photos Courtesy of the Author
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FOOD Taste of Tuscaloosa: The Valentine’s Day Edition BY SHEENA GREGG This year, I’m embracing every holiday to give 2021 some semblance of normalcy. The COVID era is still going strong though, which means many couples are having to adjust their normal Valentine’s Day routines. This month, I talked with three T-Town ladies to see how they’re celebrating the holiday.
Sheena Gregg is a registered dietitian and local “Filipino Foodie“. Follow her adventures at www.afilipinofoodie.com
Paige Acker (with boyfriend Matt Price) Last year was our first Valentine’s Day, and we set the bar high. We had a great dinner and went to see one of our favorite bands in concert. COVID will definitely alter our plans and expectations for Valentine’s Day this year. Instead of trying to go and do a big thing where we might be around a lot of people, we’re going to grab
brunch and go hiking at one of our favorite spots. Over the past year, we’ve realized how much we love to get outside together, and whether it’s hiking in Birmingham or walking at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, it’s been such a great COVID-safe activity for us as a couple.
Photo: Paige Acker
Rebekah Gaydosh (with fiancé Will Varnell) We’ve spent the past few years celebrating Valentine’s Day different ways. One year, we ordered the Valentine’s meal from Fresh Market and cooked at one of our apartments together. It included an appetizer, a main meal, and a dessert, which was great. Last year we went to the Arlington House for their Valentine’s Day dinner celebration, which was a wonderful experience. We had a
beautiful dinner with live music and enjoyed the grounds. We have gone out to dinner during the pandemic, so eating out isn’t off the table, but we’ll have to plan ahead or be more flexible/patient if we decide to go out to dinner. We’ve realized during the pandemic that cooking at home can be as much an adventure as going out to restaurants.
Photo: Rebekah Gaydosh
Litsa Rivers (with husband Josh Rivers and their toddler Larkin Lee)
Photo: Litsa Rivers
We celebrate Valentine’s Day each year. For some reason, it was always a special holiday when I was growing up. My parents made a big deal of it, and that just kind of stuck. We’ve celebrated all kinds of ways--- experiences, meals, or fun gifts. Our favorite year was when we bought rollerblades and went rollerblading for the first (and last) time together. I think COVID times and toddler times will alter how we celebrate Valentine’s
Day. But we can’t wait to make it special for our girl, Larkin Lee. We’ll probably do a game night in and order junk food. Restaurants we love include Central Mesa, Chucks, Avenue Pub, River, Southern Ale House… and a shout out Local Roots for a solid takeout option. The Wine Market has become a new favorite spot we sneak away to any time we get the chance.
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Druid City Living | February 2021
FOOD DCL Recipes: Traditional Tomato Pasta Sauce and an Almond Joy Martini BY AMY POORE This month, I’m giving you two of my favorite recipes – one for a traditional tomato sauce that’s perfect for almost any pasta dish, and another that is the perfect relaxing cocktail to end a long day. Those of you who love Almond Joy candy bars are going to flip over this martini. Cheers, and Bon Appetit!
Traditional Tomato Pasta Sauce • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 small onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1, 28 oz can Whole, peeled San Marzano tomatoes • 1/2 teaspoons fresh cracked pepper • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 8 ounces spaghetti • Fresh basil • Parmesan cheese Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat (careful not to scorch). Cool onion, stirring occasionally until soft. Add garlic, stirring constantly, and cook until fragrant (1-2 minutes). Crush tomatoes with your hand before adding them along the juice. Add pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered, while
occasionally stirring and continuing to break up tomatoes for 30 minutes. Sauce with thicken. Finish with salt. While sauce is simmering, cook spaghetti to al dente according to directions. Reserving 1/2 cup of the starch water, drain pasta and add to sauce. Stir to coat. If noodles are too “sticky,” add pasta water to thin as needed. Serve with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
Amy Poore
Traditional Tomato Pasta Sauce
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FOOD Almond Joy Martini • • • • • • • •
Chocolate syrup, for serving Finely chopped toasted almonds, for serving 1 oz. vodka 1 oz. coconut rum 1/2 oz. cream of coconut (such as Coco López) 1/2 oz. amaretto liqueur 1 oz. half and half Ice
Place chocolate syrup and chopped almonds on two separate small, shallow plates. Dip rims of martini glasses first in chocolate, then in almond. Chill until ready to use. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, coconut rum, cream of coconut, amaretto, and half and half. Fill shaker with ice and shake until cold, about 30 seconds. Drizzle more chocolate inside glasses. Strain cocktail into prepared martini glass to serve.
Amy Poore is a Tuscaloosa mom, a wife, and a foodie. To see more of Amy’s delicious recipes, visit her blog, Poore Amy, at pooreamy.com
Almond Joy Martini
