We are well on our way into 2021, and while a few New Year's resolutions may have fallen by the wayside, life in Mexico Beach is going well.
A Fisherman’s Resolution!
We are well on our way into 2021, and while a few New Year’s resolutions may have fallen by the wayside, life in Mexico Beach is going well. Our beautiful beaches, our fantastic restaurants, and the fun spirit of our residents and visitors are part of what makes our wonderful city, well, wonderful. However, there’s another reason people make visiting Mexico Beach one of their resolutions, and that’s the fishing. We have friends who come from all over just to cast that line and tell that fishing tale. Even when the sun isn’t shining, the fishing is still enjoyable; just ask our locals, the pelicans. They are regulars along our shoreline. Whether they’re enjoying the views or awaiting their next meal, we are delighted to report that our local pelicans are doing well.
And the winner is...
Last month, we had a copy of the book Images of America—Mexico Beach, autographed by the authors, Cathey Parker Hobbs and Al Cathey, up for grabs, and the lucky winner is Sharon Sheets from Fayetteville, Georgia. Congrats, Sharon!
FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY
This month, we are giving away a gift certificate compliments of Forgotten Coast Property Management and Rentals. Opening vacation rental doors to visitors for over sixteen years, the team at Forgotten Coast Property Management and Rentals will be happy to assist you in finding the ideal vacation home for your next visit to the beach. To place your name in the hat, send an email to Kathy at [email protected].
Meet Mexico Beach
Every day, the hardworking and dedicated employees of the City of Mexico Beach go to work, keeping our city a great place to live. We would like to introduce you to two of the folks that make that happen. Troy Williams and Nic Nicodemus are responsible for the maintenance and operations of the dredge that keeps our canal open and safe—a very important task. These gentlemen are just a few of those who clock in and clock out each week, making sure that repairs and operations are continually moving forward for our city. Thanks, guys!
Mexico Beach Mobile Library
February 18
Come check out a book, or two, or three from the Mobile Library! The Mobile Library will be set up at City Hall, located at 201 Paradise Path, near the covered pavilion from 12:30 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. The Mobile Library is open to the public and will be stocked with books for all ages (print and audiobooks) and DVD movies. Library patrons will be able to register for a library card and borrow and return items. So, if you don’t have a library card, don’t let that stop you. Patrons who place requests for items at other libraries can pick up those items from the Mobile Library, so patrons are not limited to the titles on the vehicle. With a nice selection of books, there will be something for everyone to read. Reading is a wonderful activity you can enjoy while at the beach, so be sure to stop and experience the benefits of the library being brought to you.
Forgotten Coast en Plein Air: America’s Great Paint-Out
March 19–28, 2021
Now in its sixteenth year, the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air: America’s Great Paint-Out is excited to announce it will kick off in March. Nationally acclaimed artists will gather in the region to capture what some believe to be the last vestiges of authentic Old Florida. From the western end of Mexico Beach to the east side of Alligator Point, artists can be seen painting alongside the roads overlooking the Gulf, as well as in out-of-the-way settings. Artists from across the States, as well as international locations, capture the area’s natural beauty, character, and local culture through the plein air tradition. This event comprises daily artist demonstrations, workshops, and sales of locally created art.
Mexico Beach is a Leave No Trace community, and we appreciate your assistance in helping us keep our beaches clean. Any items left on the beach unattended from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be removed and disposed of by the City of Mexico Beach. Items include, but are not limited to, tents and tent frames, beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, toys, etc. Also, please fill in any holes before you leave and please remain off the sand dunes and out of the sea oats to ensure their continued nourishment. There are boardwalks and walking paths that can be accessed to reach the beach. Your assistance with these requests will keep our beaches beautiful and pristine. For full details on this ordinance or questions, click here or contact City Hall at (850) 648-5700.
Shrimp and Grits
This delicious dish will be one for the supper club! We publish it compliments of the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Seafood Cookbook (www.mbara.org).
INGREDIENTS
4 slices of bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons whipping cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
4 cups water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup white grits
1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno
2 tablespoons minced green onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
PREPARATION
Cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat, until almost crisp. Remove from heat and transfer bacon to a dish, leaving drippings in skillet. Whisk 1/4 cup water, cream, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl and set aside. Stir 4 cups water, butter, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a pot; bring to a boil. Whisk grits into pot, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until grits are creamy, 20–25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir white cheddar cheese into grits. In a separate bowl, mix shrimp with Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and pinch of cayenne pepper. Heat skillet to high heat. Cook shrimp in hot bacon fat in a single layer for 1 minute. Turn shrimp, add jalapenos, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add cream mixture, bacon, green onion, and garlic to shrimp mixture. Cook and stir, adding water as necessary to thin the sauce, until shrimp are cooked through, 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Ladle grits into a bowl and top with shrimp and sauce. Enjoy!
Wisdom.
We love the dentist, and the dentist loves us, right? Here is some wisdom from and about dentists:
—I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow. He told me to wear a brown tie! —Rodney Dangerfield
—She laughs at everything you say because she has fine teeth. —Benjamin Franklin
—Even if you aren’t hungry, the worst thing you can be told after a dentist appointment is “you can’t eat for 30 minutes.”
—You don’t have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.
—Dentists are medical professionals who help you put your money where your mouth is.
—A dentist gets to the root of the problem.
—Happiness is your dentist telling you it won’t hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. —Johnny Carson
—A man loses his illusions first, his hair second, his teeth third, and his follies last.
—I told my dentist I want a tooth to match the others. He gave me one with four cavities. —Rodney Dangerfield
“His Name is Mud”
In the 18th century, the word “mud” generally meant a “dope” or a “sap.” When someone did something dishonorable or stupid, “his name is mud” might have been said of him. There is a second origin attributed to the saying; this one refers to Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated John Wilkes Booth for a broken leg. Booth broke his leg fleeing from the scene after shooting Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in 1865. For his part as a coconspirator, Mudd was reviled and imprisoned for several years. This version is most likely untrue as the saying was in use in the early 1800s, well before the assassination.
