Words by Linley Allred | Images by Justin Hunter
It’s hot, y’all.
And it’s not cooling off for a while because this is summer in Sweet Home Alabama. To help you beat the heat, we have compiled a list of five tasty treats, all available at locally owned spots in Jasper. See if any of these will help you cool down and bring a smile to your face! You can thank us later.
First up, we have the milkshake of the month at Alabama Stackers, located at 108 19th Street East in Jasper. Until June 30th, you can enjoy the tasty peanut trio of the peanut butter shake, the peanut butter and jelly shake, and last but not least (in my opinion) the peanut butter fudge shake. The peanut butter shake is a delight, but the peanut butter and jelly (strawberry jelly, FYI) is like taking a bite of 1984. It screams Saturday morning cartoons, playing outside ‘til dark, and not taking a bath because you swam that day. The peanut butter fudge is even more my jam because what goes better with peanut butter than chocolate?
Beginning July 8th, you can once again enjoy the homemade banana pudding milkshake, which I taste-tested last year, much to my delight! Vanilla (or Nilla, if you prefer) wafers, fresh bananas, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a house-blend banana pudding combine to give you a sweet treat. Make sure you visit Alabama Stackers in July to try it out!
Next, we have the summer staple of shaved ice. Whoever came up with this idea is our hero. However, visiting the Sugar Shack in downtown Jasper at 75 19th Street East can really test your decision-making skills; there’s so much to choose from! We opted for Rainbow and enjoyed the flavors of cherry, blue raspberry, and banana, all coming together to make a summer splash! We promise whatever flavor you go with will make you smile!
How does that song go? “Summer breeze, makes me feel fine.” The Summer Breeze at SherNutrition made us feel fine! Blue sweet tart, pineapple, coconut, and watermelon helped us fight the heat and gave us the energy needed to get through the day when we just wanted to be lazy. Visit them at their new location, 520 19th Street West in Jasper. You will be glad you did!
Next, let’s head over to Mi Michoacana at 145 Hwy 78, where our decision-making did not get any easier. We finally went for the strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone (with sprinkles, of course), and it was just what we needed. This treat tasted like homemade ice cream you make in the backyard before your cousins come over to swim. But the popsicles were very tempting too. You can’t go wrong at Mi Michoacana!
Last but certainly not least, we wanted to give you at least one healthier option. The Acai Bowls at Lavish Coffee Bar, located at 209 19th Street East, give you a healthy dose of protein while combining the freshness we look for in our summer foods. We tried the Main Street Bowl, which has strawberries, blueberries, bananas, granola, acai, and your choice of peanut butter or Nutella (or both!). You can also try the Flourish Bowl with bananas, mandarin oranges, and pineapple.
We hope this list has inspired you to try out all these local places and helped you to plan how to beat the heat this summer! WL
Writer’s note: not all treats were consumed on the same day by the same person, though it was tempting. Also, I took a Lactaid.
