Recipe Post: Chickpea Sunflower Burgers

At last, edits to the Chickpea Sunflower Burgers are done, and the recipe is posted.

Reminder that these burgers are firmer than some of my other patties and burger recipes.  I specifically wanted to make a patty that would hold up on its own to eat in a bun or otherwise (as I mentioned in the burger post sometime ago).  Also, though sunflower is in the title, I've been subbing pumpkin seeds recently and loving those even more.  Up to you which you want to use!

Okay, get your condiments ready and your home fries in the oven, and gobble up!

Note:  I received an e-mail from someone about where I shop for groceries, etc.  I'm so sorry, but I seem to have lost your e-mail.  If you're out there, and know it was you, please e-mail again! :D 

(Next post: I have the most deliciously exciting book review - and it's not a cookbook!)

Animal fat is an obvious problem.  It was designed by nature specifically to store calories. .... Many people have the misconception that if they trim the fat off the outside of a piece of meat, they have got rid of its fat.  ... Imagine that you took a sponge and poured oil into it, soaking the sponge with grease.  Now, if you were to take one paper towel after another and wipe off the surface of the sponge, you would remove some grease, but the sponge would still be saturated with it.  This is about what happens when people try to trim the fat from meats.  You can remove some of the external fat, but it is impossible to remove the fat that permeates the cut of the meat.  ... At its lowest, beef is still around 30 percent fat, which is several times the fat content of grains, vegetables, beans, and fruits. "Lean meat" is a contradiction in terms.  (Source: Food for Life)

Chickpea Sunflower Burgers (& Father's Day question)

For my new cookbook, I've created a couple of burger recipes that are very family-friendly.  The inspiration came from my good friend, during one of our marathon morning chats!

We had been talking about our kids' eating habits, and got on to veggie burgers.  We agreed that they can be fussy with veggie burgers because often the ones that we like as adults are spiced more than children typically like, and also can be somewhat delicate when the kiddos like having a solid patty on a bun.

This conversation got me thinking (as I do too much about recipes)!  Nevertheless, now I have two new veg burger recipes that are nicely firm and seasoned well enough, but without any overpowering flavors and no noticeable bits of things like peppers that the little ones try to pick out!  This is one of them, my Chickpea Sunflower Burgers.  I have also tested them with pumpkin seeds and almonds to replace the sunflower seeds, and all variations are delicious.  Here is one patty, formed, ready to pan fry.  As you can see, it is dense and firm, and easily holds in the palm of my hand.

This night I served them on whole-wheat tortillas (but they can stand up to a burger bun), and we had some home fries alongside.  Forgot to show the dollop of Vegenaise on the burger, which is a scrumptious topping along with the tomato and ketchup!

On to my question... Father's Day is this Sunday.  Are any of you planning to make something special for your husband, or your father (or another special dad in your life)?  Since my man loves chocolate, I am thinking of making my new "Three's Company Pie" (aka Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pie).  I know he'll love that!  But, I'm thinking of posting a recipe for Father's Day in my next true/slant article, and am wondering what kinds of dishes your own hubbies/fathers like on a special day? Please share!

KFC insists it is "committed to the well-being and humane treatment of chickens."  How trustworthy are these words?  At a slaughterhouse in West Virginia that supplies KFC, workers were documented tearing the heads off live birds, spitting tobacco into their eyes, spray-painting their faces, and violently stomping on them.  These acts were witnessed dozens of times.  This slaughterhouse was not a "bad apple," but a "Supplier of the Year."  Imagine what happens at the bad apples when no one is looking. (Source: Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer)