November 2020 Newsletter

Life in Mexico

November traditionally marks the beginning of the ‘social season’ in Manzanillo, when snowbirds flee Canada and the US for the warmer climes of southern Mexico. Not only does the season kick off with festivities surrounding the Day of the Dead, but it is also the start of winter weather, where daily rainstorms and the threat of hurricanes during the summer months give way to endless sun, low humidity and refreshing breezes right through to June.

Tradition, however, has been thrown out the window by COVID. Authorities closed graveyards to prevent families from honoring their loved ones on Day of the Dead. While the beaches and restaurants remain open, anyone entering a mall or major store has their temperature checked, and, if it’s too high, refused entry.

Some citizens of Manzanillo wear masks in public, but most do not. Although not everyone is so inclined, there is a fatalistic attitude among the population regarding COVID. When you consider that Dengue and other potentially fatal diseases have been endemic throughout the region for decades without significant medical intervention by the authorities, COVID is just one more plague to be stoically endured; you either catch it and survive, or you die.

Expats tend to take a different approach, seeking ways to avoid contracting the disease. Many have decided to pass on journeying to Mexico this year, preferring to take their chances at home. Linda and I have remained in Mexico for the duration, opting to self-isolate and social distance while enjoying the warm weather.

Hopefully, vaccines and other medical advances will eventually reduce the threat of COVID and allow people to confidently travel safely throughout North America and the world. We can only trust that day arrives soon.

Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti

This is a great recipe for using left-over turkey from Thanksgiving (or you can buy frozen minced turkey). Either way, it’s easy to make, delicious and filling!

Meatball Ingredients (feeds four)

1 lb of leftover turkey, minced fine in the blender.

or 1 roll of frozen minced turkey.

1 egg

½ cup of panko or bread crumbs

1 tsp of salt

½ cup of grated parmesan

1 Tsp of Italian seasoning spices.

2 garlic cloves, minced.

1 cup of firm cheese (Cheddar, Monterey jack, Gouda), cut into cubes.

2 Tsp of olive oil

Sauce ingredients

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper

1 Tsp of Italian spice

¼ white onion, chopped

4 mushrooms, chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced.

2 Tsp of olive oil.

1 lb of spaghetti

Grated Parmesan and fresh basil (optional).

Directions

Mix the turkey, egg, panko, salt, pepper, spices and Parmesan in a bowl. By hand, form the mix into balls slightly larger than a golf ball (you should have around 12). Push a piece of cheese into the center of each meat ball.

Gently fry the meatballs in olive oil for a few minutes, until the outside is brown. Place in an oven pan.

Fry the onion, garlic and mushrooms in oil. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and spices and cook for a few minutes longer. Pour over the meat balls.

Heat the oven to 400 F. Place the pan into the oven and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.

In the meantime, boil the spaghetti and drain. Serve the spaghetti with the meatball mix on top, and garnish with Parmesan and basil.

Dead Man Cipher
Launch Date: November 1, 2020

Order Here

FBI AGENT JACK KENYON is squaring off against one of his most intractable foes.

Dev Patek, a renowned nuclear physicist, has been found lifeless in his backyard. All evidence points to suicide, until a letter arrives at Kenyon’s desk, to be delivered only after Patek’s untimely death.

But the dead man letter is in code, a cipher that requires the use of a mysterious manuscript to crack it. The message may reveal who killed Patek – or something far more sinister.

As Jack pursues Dev’s murder, he begins to uncover a comprehensive scheme to steal one of the world’s most valuable secrets, the blueprint to Baron Feargus Morgan’s nuclear engine.

Follow Jack from San Francisco to London as he pursues a host of spies, murderers and kidnappers who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

Free eBook!

Secret Combinations

Download here!

Read the first in the FBI Agent Jack Kenyon series for free!

When Jack’s aunt mysteriously dies in a car accident outside of London, Jack soon finds himself on the trail to stop a sinister plan to ruin the world wide web!

Book Review

Beartown

By Fredrick Backman

You may be familiar with Fredrick Backman as the author of A Man Called Ove, a tremendous hit when it was first released in 2012. He has a handful of successful novels, most set in his native Sweden.

Beartown is no exception. Situated in the backwoods village of the same name, the citizens of Beartown are berated by their big city cousins as ignorant hicks and hillbillies. But they all have one thing in common; a passionate love of hockey.

For several years now, Peter Andersson, a former NHL player, has been shepherding a group of local youngsters toward the national junior championships. Now, their moment is at hand when they fight their way to the final game. The entire town is behind them, bursting with pride that their woebegone town is finally going to be feted throughout the country.

But, before the big game, tragedy strikes. The star player is accused of raping Peter’s 15-year old daughter. The town is riven into two factions – those who believe the girl, and those who believe the boy. There is no middle ground; each individual must painfully search to discover the truth within their own hearts.

I highly recommend this moving and thought-provoking book!

Restaurant Review; Oveja

Located a few doors from Juanito’s in Santiago, Oveja (The sheep) opened up in October. During weekdays, the restaurant offers al fresco dining as well as takeaway for a range of stews, tacos and traditional dishes.

The real treat is the roasted borrega, however. On Saturdays and Sundays, owner Emilio slaughters a sheep on his ranch and then roasts it in a pit of coals covered with agave leaves for 7 hours. When the cooking is done, the meat is so tender it is literally falling off the bone!

For 250 pesos, Linda and I ordered a half kilo of meat for takeaway. This included a dozen corn tortillas hand-made in the kitchen by Grandma, fresh onion and cilantro garnish, and a lovely spicy salsa made from green tomatoes, avocado and onions.

We had a delicious meal of tacos (you can also order broth and make stew), and there was plenty of meat left over to make lamb curry later in the week! I highly recommend Oveja!

TV Series Review

The Crown

Streaming on Netflix

Season 4 of The Crown dropped in November, and it’s been an entertaining addition to the franchise. To those living in a cave, The Crown focuses on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, from her earliest childhood moments (when her father becomes king when Edward abdicates the throne), to the present day.

Season 4 covers the years when Prince Charles (played by Josh O’Connor) is urged to find a wife, and he picks young Diana Spencer. Their fairy-tale life is jeopardized by the presence of Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles’ married mistress. As Diana struggles to raise two boys and perform her royal duties, her inner world crumbles as she vainly seeks the love of her emotionally immature husband.

The series is deftly written by Peter Morgan, who was also the writer of The Queen (which had 6 Oscar nominations and one win in 2006). The Crown features a superb cast, with Olivia Colman (Best Actress Oscar for The Favourite, 2019) as Queen Elizabeth, Gillian Anderson (X Files), as Margaret Thatcher, Emma Corrin as Princess Diana and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret.

Season 4 is my favorite, so far. There’s lots of action and turmoil, including the Falklands War, the murder of Lord Mountbatten by the IRA, and Charles’ growing determination to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels. I can’t wait for Season 5!

I highly recommend The Crown!