Pinning with Dick Biggler

Okey dokey, this is going to sound like a totally awful#humblebrag, and for that I am truly sorry. However, I have a question/observation. Recently, a few lists about Pinterest on various book/PR-type websites have listed me as a “power pinner” for my books board. I think it’s based on the number of re-pins and speed at which my following has accumulated. but still…..

First: My query. Who in the fresh f decided to coin the term “power pinner?” I love alliteration as far as literary devices go, but “power pinner” feels like the proper term for some unsavory porn specialization. Like, “hey, who can we get for this scene in the butterfly room? Oh! we’ll get Dick Biggler, he’s a power-pinner!” (incidentally, Dick Biggler would also be an excellent name for a tomcat.)

Second: My Observation, this means someone is out there, with a job they’re probably paid to do, trolling Pinterest boards and twitter. Whoever that person is, should just buy a lotto ticket tonight, because they’re obviously effing lucky. Hey, the Powerball is sitting somewhere near the GDP of several small nations, you may as well.

Moving on…because of this little space in the blogosphere, and my happy little Pinterest app on my iphone, (take it from my cold, dead hands, zombie steve jobs!!) I get many many many requests for book reviews/could you possibly add this book to a list?/can I get some pinterest love? requests nigh daily. I deny (politely) most requests.

But every once in a while, I get someone who disagrees with a review I’ve done, or a book list I put out, etc. Never have I ever received so much flack for a book list as I did when I put up this one. Coincidentally, I’ve never received so much POSITIVE email for a list before, either! It’s a damned mystery!

Top Ten Unconventional Romances

Oh dear me. The main book, the one by LH Cosway, a book I gave a RARE five stars to, is about a professional drag queen and the woman who falls in love with him, and how he falls in love with her. He’s straight, he just likes heels and can sing the dickens out of a Liza tune.(sidenote: the highest rating I typically give is 4, and it really means 3 and a halfish…but that isn’t an option.)

People really think I’m out of my mind to recommend this book. This book with zero gratuitous violence or excessive vulgarity, and was penned by someone who can describe a woman more thoroughly than “she bites her fucking lip a lot.”

On the other hand, a ton of people *20+ emails* LOVED this book. Got its quirkiness. Loved its humor.  This is why I make the lists–not everyone will agree, but people get intense discussing books. I LOVE that about you nerds.

Now for some lists!!

What’s Open On My Kindle:

Buffalo Calf Road Woman-Rosemary Agnito

The story of a Cheyenne warrior woman. It’s boss.

Bite Me-Shelly Laurenston

It’s a shifter novel. It’s part of the series. It’s complete literary happy candy.

(also a Vonnegut and an Austen…palate cleansers if a book sucks ass.)

On Audio:

Working my way through the Outlander series again…it takes a WHILE. Her newbie just came out yesterday. Oh, Jamie. You sexy Scot, you. To be honest, I got so caught up in it last night, I ran into a neighborhood I’ve never ventured into on previous runs, and found myself all kinds of lost. I also ran far longer, not given to the acedia of a sometimes tedious sport.

On my nightstand:

Euphoria by Lily King

A love triangle between archaeologists. Someone is getting boned.

(as well as a dozen others from my TBR)

To the meat of the post…or no meat, as it were. THE RECIPE!

Thai-Chili Chickpea Burgers!

  

It’s a vegetarian (no fish sauce) patty that is chock-full of yummy Thai flavors like lime, cilantro, basil, peanut, ginger, garlic, curry, and SRIRACHA. The patties are topped with a cilantro-cabbage slaw, making silly wastes of calories like mayo, a pointless endeavor.

Thai Chili Chickpea Burgers

by Cat Bowen

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: appetizer sandwich side vegetarian

Ingredients (6 patties)

For the Patty

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp Thai green curry paste
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1 tsp chopped ginger
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1/4 cup basil leaves
• 1/4 cup cilanto
• 4 scallions–chopped and trimmed
• zest of one lime
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• salt and pepper

for the slaw

• 1/2 head of red cabbage, shredded
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• pepper

Instructions

for the slaw

combine all ingredients and set aside, let marinate at least 15 minutes

for the patties

in a food processor, pulse the peanuts to a near-flour like consistency

add in remaining ingredients

blend

in a skillet, heat a few tbsp of oil on medium-high heat (I use a combo of coconut and sesame for flavor)

using an ice cream scoop, scoop patty mix onto skillet

using a cooking spray sprayed spatula, flatten into patties on the skillet

cook 3 minutes, flip

serve on toasted bun or english muffin with slaw and tomato or cucumber or both.