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A moist chocolate muffin with chocolate chips, this double chocolate muffin is a sweet breakfast treat!  Recipe:Ingredients3 cups all-purpose flour 4 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3/4 cups cocoa powder 2 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup melted coconut oil 1/2 cup maple syrup 3/4 cup apple sauce 3 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup vegan chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life) DirectionsPreheat the oven to 375°F. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder. In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut oil, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla extract. Add the coconut milk and wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Add the vegan chocolate chips and stir. Scoop the batter evenly into a greased muffin pan, place in the oven, and bake for 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan. Enjoy! 
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Guinea pigs are adorable animals that make wonderful companions. They are loving, curious, and as previously mentioned, absolutely ADORABLE!!! I should know, my family and I have adopted 2 and rescued 3. TimeLineJuly 24th, 2016The first guinea pigs that we adopted were Caramelo (Spanish for caramel) and Oreo, and since they were our first, we adopted them from a pet store (now, however, we do not purchase anything from pet stores that sell animals). Caramelo became my guinea pig, and Oreo my sister's.
March 25th, 2017On the evening of March 25th, 2017, my mom was on Facebook when she saw a post announcing that a neighbor of ours was giving away their pet guinea pig, Rex. We fell in love immediately, and within the hour, she was on her way to pick him up. We didn't think that the name "Rex" was appropriate for him, so we changed it to Canela (Spanish for "cinnamon"). We didn't know that there was a specific way in which you're supposed to introduce guinea pigs to each other, so we simply placed Canela into Caramelo and Oreo's home. Canela was curious and wandered up to everyone else, but Caramelo, being the alpha, chased him around. Oreo was nervous and kept crying out, so for everyone's safety, we removed Canela and did a little research on how to properly introduce male guinea pigs to each other. We kept Canela separated from Caramelo and Oreo for about a week, where they could see, smell, and hear each other without harming one another. Then we placed all three of them in a tiki (that's what we call their cage. Cage just sounds like a prison) that none of them recognized as their turf. We were successful, and although they have a small argument every once in a while, they've gotten along ever since.  Canela September 30th, 2020Caramelo unexpectedly passed away; we miss him terribly. November 19th, 2020Similar to when we rescued Canela, my mom was on Facebook when she came upon a post about a neighbor rehoming their two female guinea pigs. We all fell in love immediately, but because they are females instead of males, our mom was a little on edge (but mostly because of Covid-19). However, we replied that we would love to adopt them if no one had done so by the next day. That was on November 17th. Late in the evening of the 18th we found out that they hadn't been adopted yet, so we said that we would. The next day we spent the morning preparing for our new babies, and by noon, they were home with us. They had a quick bath and settled in. Their names were originally Speckles and Sunshine, however, the names didn't come naturally to us, so we changed them to Nutmeg and Noelle. They are still shy but they have started to come out of their hiding space, and soon they'll warm up to us.  Nutmeg is on the left and Noelle is on the right Guinea Pig CareAll of our precious little guinea pigs would like for me to tell you what we know about guinea pig care so that guinea pigs all around the world will live a happy and healthy life! HousingIf you go to a pet store, they'll probably recommend to you a small cage with dimensions of about 2'x2'. According to them, that cage houses 2 guinea pigs, however, they need more space than that. They enjoy running around and need to stretch their legs, and generally, a single guinea pig requires at least 7.5 square feet to roam (guinea pigs are very social animals and don't do very well by themselves), with an extra 1.5 feet for a second guinea pig, and another 2 square feet per additional guinea pig. When it comes to your guinea pig's home, the bigger the better!  We purchased our guinea pigs' homes at Piggy BedSpreads, which although a little expensive, is definitely worth the extra money. Also, these guinea pig homes use special fleece blankets for bedding, which is much better than paper bedding (it's better for your guinea pig, as well as both environmentally and financially). The sheets have a waterproof bottom and absorb your guinea pig's urine so that they don't have to lay in it. Although the initial investment may be a bit costly, you'll eventually end up saving money because you won't have to be constantly purchasing new bedding.  We thoroughly clean out our babies' tikis once every 2 to 3 days, but we clean up their dropping at least twice a day. Additional Home Notes:
Here are the links to our guinea pigs' homes and sheets. (Vegan Empire does not make any profits from your purchase; we simply want all guinea pigs to live a long, happy and healthy life.)  DietGuinea pigs love their veggies! We feed ours a wide variety of fruits and veggies, but they also need to have plenty of hay! Hay: Guinea pigs have to have access to a never-ending supply of fresh hay to stay healthy. We feed our guinea pigs second-cutting timothy hay from "Small Pet Select". They all seem to like it very much! Fruits and veggies: Fruits and veggies are a guinea pig's favorite, and they all have different preferences! We feed ours...
Caramelo's favorite veggie were tomatoes,  Oreo's favorite snacks are cucumber slices,  and Canela's favorite snacks are carrots.  Pellets: Pet stores virtually always recommend purchasing pellets for you guinea pigs, but they don't need them. In fact, feeding pellets to your guinea pigs can harm their health! Eating pellets caused Oreo to form a kidney stone and Caramelo had tooth trouble. While Oreo successfully had the kidney stone surgically removed, Caramelo stopped eating because of his tooth, lost weight, and passed away recently. GroomingSo that your guinea pigs are healthy, they need to be groomed regularly, including nails, ears, and baths.  We clean our babies' ears gently using Q-tips. We do this once a week to keep them clean. At the same time, we trim their nails with our electric pet nail tripper. This allows us to keep their nails short without worrying about accidentally cutting the quick. Baths are usually every 3 months, unless they get dirty before that! We use our all-natural baby soap to bathe them, and it's important to rinse out ALL soap to prevent it from itching. Also, make sure not to wet their faces (especially the ears!) and to not get anything in their eyes.  At the moment, not much has been said about Nutmeg and Noelle, which is because they have not been here with us long, thus we have not gotten to know them well. However, once we do, there will be much more about them here!
A fluffy cupcake with a sweet frosting, these snickerdoodle cupcakes are a tasty twist on the classic snickerdoodle cookie!  These cupcakes are a sweet treat that are great for a holiday dessert or for a weekend breakfast.  You can also make this cupcake recipe into a cake; just pour the batter into a greased 8"x8" cake pan* and bake for a few extra minutes. *Double the recipe if you want to fill 2 8"x8" cake pans.  RecipeMakes 9 IngredientsFor the cupcake: 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cups light brown sugar 1/4 cup cane sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup olive oil* 2 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp white vinegar For the frosting: 1/4 cup vegan butter 2 and 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1 to 3 tbsp. coconut milk** Cinnamon (for dusting) 1 tsp vanilla extract *Please make sure that your olive oil is made from hand-picked olives since those that are mechanically picked usually harm birds. **You may need to add more to reach desired consistency. Directions
 If it weren't for the fact that this baked ziti was homemade, I would have seriously thought that it contained dairy! This tasty dish tastes just like the baked ziti that you'd get at an authentic Italian restaurant, but better because it's homemade and 100% cruelty-free!  RecipeIngredients16 oz. uncooked ziti pasta (or your favorite pasta) 5 cups your favorite pasta sauce 14 ounces firm tofu 1/4 cup nutritional yeast 10 fresh basil leaves (or 1 tbsp. dry basil) 3 cloves garlic peeled 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons rice milk (unsweetened) 2 8oz bags Violife mozzarella shreds 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup Violife parmesan cheese, shredded + extra for topping Directions
One thing that's great about muffins is that there are so many variations, you'll never get bored! Here are a few of my favorites: VariationsMint Chocolate ChipAdditional ingredients: 2 tsp mint extract 1/2 cup vegan Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips To make this delicious mint chocolate chip muffin, simply add the mint extract to the wet mixture during step 3 and the chocolate chips to the batter at the end of step 4. IngredientsRecipe2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup brown sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 flax eggs* 1 cup rice milk 4 tbsp. coconut oil, melted 1 variations from above *1 flax egg is 1 tablespoon flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water and set aside for 10 minutes. Directions
An authentic Italian dish, this plant-based chick'n parmesan tastes just like the real thing!  RecipeIngredientsCutlets: 1 cup vital wheat gluten 1/2 cup chickpeas, mashed 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable broth 2 tsp. nutritional yeast 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 tbsp. tomato sauce 1/4 tsp. dried parsley 1/2 tsp. salt Breading: 3/4 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp dried parsley Batter: 1/2 cup chickpea flour 1/2 cup water Other: 2 to 3 tbsp. olive oil (for frying) 2 to 3 cups of your favorite pasta sauce (I recommend using the sauce from Vegan Empire's pizza recipe) 3/4 cup Violife mozzarella shreds 1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded Violofe parmesan cheese Directions
 Oven-baked onion rings that are crispy and full of flavor, these are the perfect snacks for any occasion!  RecipeIngredients3 medium onions (white or yellow) 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2/3 cup rice milk 1 tsp paprika 3/4 tsp salt 1 cup vegan bread crumbs  Directions
 November is World Vegan Day, the time to celebrate 100% cruelty-fee lifestyles! Vegan Empire has come up with this list to help you celebrate!  Why vegan?There are many benefits in choosing to be vegan, of course there's the cruelty-free aspect of it, but did you know that a vegan diet is healthier than one that consists of meat? It's true! As a matter of fact, vegans, as well as vegetarians, have a longer life expectancy than that of meat-eaters. Vegan benefits:
 Fun activitiesBake as a FamilyIt's always fun to bake Christmas cookies as a family during the holidays, but why wait until then? This World Vegan Month, try baking one of Vegan Empire's many tasty dessert recipes and enjoy them as a family. If you decide to bake one of Vegan Empire's desserts (or a bunch of them), please share your pictures on our Facebook page, we'd love to see how it went! Here are some of my favorite desserts, but you can also explore more ideas here. Vegan Empire TriviaTrivia is fun to play just about anytime, whether by yourself or with friends and family. It can be a fun addition to your family game night, or it can help to pass the time on a long trip. Vegan Empire's very first game of trivia will take place Friday, November 5th, 2020, and if it is a success, we hope to host a game of trivia every week! You can join the 11/6/2020 trivia here.  Vegan SnacksWhether it's movie night, game night, or a party, snacks are always a great thing to serve, and there are many tasty vegan snacks, but these are my all-time favorites. They are full of flavor, and the best part is, absolutely no animals were hurt to make them!
 visit (or donate to) a Farm Animal SanctuaryVegans save hundreds of animals each year, so why not visit the animals that you're saving by going to a farm animal sanctuary. However, it's not always possible, so donating to these sanctuaries is the next best thing!  Enter Vegan Empire's World Vegan Month Art ContestIf you're interested in drawing or painting, enter Vegan Empire's World Vegan Month art contest! The theme for this art contest is "Vegans save lives". Draw or paint anything that you think fits this theme and message it to Vegan Empire from here. Along with your artwork, please include your name and your grade if applicable. There are 2 divisions to this art contest (students and non-students) and a winner will be named for each division. When's the deadline? The deadline for this art contest is November 30th, 2020. What's the prize? Bragging rights! Your name and your artwork will be featured on Vegan Empire homepage for the entire  A flakey outside with a soft, buttery inside, these old fashioned "Buttery" biscuits are the perfect addition to any breakfast.  You can also use this recipe to create "Mummy Dogs" for your Halloween-themed party. Simply make the biscuit batter and wrap it around some "Lightlife Smart dogs" and bake at 425°F until the biscuits are baked. Enjoy!  RecipeIngredients2 cups all purpose flour 1 tbsp. baking powder 1 tbsp. cane sugar 1 tsp. salt 6 tbsp. vegan butter flavored coconut oil 1 cup rice milk Directions
 A sweet dip that tastes exactly like a cannoli, this is a tasty treat all on its own!  This cannoli dip is absolutely delicious with Vegan Empire's crepes! It's just the right amount of sweet, and is perfect for breakfast or for dessert!  Cannoli Dip RecipeIngredients1 cup Vegan Empire's ricotta cheese (see recipe below) 8 oz. Violife cream cheese, (at room temperature) 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2/3 cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips* *I like using "Enjoy Life". They're vegan and palm oil-free. Directions
 Ricotta Cheese RecipeIngredients14 oz. firm tofu, drained and pressed 1 tbsp. lemon juice 3 tbsp. nutritional yeast 1 tbsp. coconut oil Directions
 A savory and flavorful pasta, these saucy noodles are a tasty ethnic dish!  Sprinkle with some extra sesame seeds for presentation and a little extra flavor!  You can also make this recipe using your favorite pasta noodles, like fusilli!  RecipeIngredients1 lb. angel hair or spaghetti, prepared to the instructions on the box 1 cup room temperature vegetable broth 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup corn starch 2 to 3 tbsp. maple syrup 2 tbsp. lemon juice 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp. sesame oil Directions
 A soft cookie full of cinnamon flavor, these snickerdoodle cookies are a delicious holiday treat!  Not only are these cookies a great addition to your holiday party, they're also a sweet treat for and day of the year!  RecipeIngredientsFor the cookie: 2½ cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp cream of tarter 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup vegan butter flavored coconut oil (you can use regular coconut oil too) 1 cup organic cane sugar ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce 2 tsp vanilla extract For rolling: 3 tbsp. organic cane sugar 1 tbsp. cinnamon Directions
 The best breakfast item in the entire world, these vegan crepes are also perfect for dessert!   RecipeIngredients1 and 1/2 cup coconut milk 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tbsp. cane sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 3 tbsp. coconut oil Directions
 A flakey crust and an ooey gooey, delicious filling, this pecan pie is the perfect holiday treat!   Pie Crust RecipeIngredients2 cups all-purpose flour 1 pinch of salt 1/2 cup coconut oil (I use vegan butter-flavored coconut oil) 1/4 cup coconut milk Directions
 Pecan Pie RecipeIngredients1 batch of Vegan Empire's vegan pie crust 3 tbsp. cornstarch 1 cup water 1 and 1/4 cup organic maple syrup 1/2 tsp salt 2 tbsp. vegan butter flavored coconut oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup pecans, chopped 1 cup pecan halves Directions
 A tasty donut with a sweet, flavorful maple dip, maple donuts are by far the best donuts, and these are no exception!  Going to the local bakery to get a maple dip donut is delicious, but what's better than that? A homemade vegan maple dip donut!  Recipe:IngredientsFor the Donut: 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed 3 tbsp. water 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 cup cane sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 1/2 cup coconut milk 2 tbsp. melted coconut oil 3/4 tsp vanilla extract For the dip: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup maple syrup Directions
 A sweet, light, and airy treat, this is chocolate mousse is a delicious dessert!  This is a fluffy and sweet treat that's perfect for any special occasion or family dinner.  After using the aquafaba for this chocolate mousse, you can use the garbanzo beans for one of these other tasty recipes!  RecipeIngredients1 cup aquafaba* 7oz vegan semisweet chocolate chips, melted 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2 tbsp. maple syrup *aquafaba is the liquid in a can of garbanzo beans (there's about 3/4 cup aquafaba in 1 15oz can) Directions
 A sweet bread, perfect as both a side dish or as a tasty snack, this cornbread is quick and easy to make!  Recipe:Ingredients1 and 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 cup cornmeal (medium ground) 2/3 cup cane sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp. baking powder 1 and 1/4 cup rice milk 1/3 cup sunflower oil Directions
 Crispy on the outside with just the right amount of spice, these flavorful patties taste just like chicken!  This sandwich is also tasty without the breadcrumb coating! It's slightly less crispy, but still bursting with flavor!  I enjoy my buffalo sandwiches when served on a warm bun with a side of vegan ranch!  RecipeIngredients15oz can garbanzo beans, drained 1 tbsp. sunflower oil 1/3 cup vegetable broth 2 tbsp. buffalo sauce + extra for coating (I use mild or medium) 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten 1/3 cup bread crumbs Extra bread crumbs for coating, optional 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp salt Directions
One of the world’s smallest marine mammals, sea otters are the ocean’s teddy bears and crucial to the existence of marine ecosystems. Celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week (The last week of September) by learning more about these adorable animals!  River otters reside in coastal waters that are around 50 to 75 feet deep and usually remain within a kilometer from shore. These animals are typically found in places that are protected from harsh weather, such as rocky coastlines, kelp forests and barrier reefs.  Although not considered to be social animals since they hunt, groom, and defend themselves, sea otters often come together in groups called rafts. Rafts of sea otters are either all male or all female and are often made up of 10 to 100 individuals, with the male rafts typically being larger. However, the largest raft ever recorded contained over 2,000 sea otters.  With numbers once ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 individuals, sea otters were a common sight in areas such as the Pacific coast. However, during the years 1741 to 1911, they were frequently trapped for their fur. This tragic plight reduced the sea otter’s population down to as little as 1,000 to 2,000 individuals. Later, in 1938, it was thought that the sea otter was extinct when a raft of 32 sea otters was spotted off the coast of Big Sur California. Over time, conservation efforts have increased the sea otter population to 100,000.  A member of the family Mustelidae along with weasels, minks, and the other 12 remaining otter species, sea otters are quite different in several ways. Unlike all other mustelids, sea otters do not live in burrows or dens, lack a functioning anal scent gland, and can live solely at sea. Because sea otters are so different, in 1982, scientists thought that the sea otter was more closely related to the earless seal than Mustelids.  Sea otters have adapted to their environment extremely well, and although they can walk on the land, these animals are capable of living their entire lives in the water. They can close their ears and nostrils to keep water out during dives, and their feet are flattened and fully webbed, with the fifth toe being the longest. This foot structure makes swimming easier, but at the same time, it makes walking more difficult. Sea otters swim by moving the back end of their body up and down, reaching speeds of up to 5.6mph.  When on the water’s surface, sea otters float along on their backs, moving around by swaying their tails from side to side. On a hot day, they stay cool when resting by keeping their hind legs underwater. On a cold day, however, they stay warm by pressing their legs onto their torso.  The only marine mammal without blubber, sea otters stay warm because of their thick fur; the densest of all animal, with over one million hairs per square inch in areas. Their short underfur is kept dry due to a layer of long, waterproof “guard hairs”. A sea otter’s fur does not shed in a specific season, instead, it sheds gradually year-round. Of course, for their fur to protect them, a sea otter’s coat must be kept clean at all times. Luckily, a sea otter’s loose skin and flexible bone structure allows them to groom every inch of their body.  To be able to float with ease, sea otters are very buoyant animals. This is due to the air in their fur and their large lungs. Sea otters blow air into their fur to keep themselves afloat, and a pup’s coat is so full of air, they cannot sink nor dive. Sea otters also have a lung capacity 2.5 times greater than that of similar sized land mammals.  Sea otters typically mate in autumn, so from Spring to Autumn, male sea otters guard their territory by patrolling its boundaries, keeping other males out; nevertheless, actual fighting rarely occurs. Males without territory often travel amongst female, looking for a mate. The female sea otters are free to move through male territory as they please, where they outnumber the males 5 to 1. Like the North American river otter, sea otters are aggressive when it comes to mating, with the male biting the face of the female to keep her in place, resulting in injury or even death.  Since a sea otter’s gestation period ranges from 4 months to a year, pups are constantly being born. A mother sea otter has 1 pup at a time which she’ll nurse for 3 to 6 months. At birth, sea otter pups weigh around 3 to 5 pounds.  With full grown males measuring about 4 to 5 feet in length and weighing 49 to 99 pounds, and females being smaller, sea otters are the largest mustelid. Nevertheless, they are also the world’s smallest marine mammal.  These animals have a high metabolism and an extremely effective digestive system, with food passing through in as little as 3 hours. For these reasons, a sea otter must eat 25 to 38% of their body weight daily. Sea otters are not picky eaters, consuming over 100 species of prey: mostly marine benthic invertebrates such as urchins, clams, and mussels. Contrary to public opinion, sea otters rarely eat starfish, and the kelp that they eat seems to go through undigested. Sea otters also have large kidneys, which allows them to drink salt water, unlike most marine mammals.  Sea otters are diurnal animals that spend 9 to 12 hours of their day foraging for food on the ocean floor. They usually start an hour before dawn, stopping to nap at about midday. Later in the afternoon, they start foraging one again before stopping at dusk. At about midnight, a sea otter may forage once again, but this is most common in mothers. When a mother sea otter goes to look for food, she wraps her young in kelp to keep them from drifting away. A mother sea otter may also leave her kit in a pen formed by rocks while she forages.  While searching for food, sea otters dive to depths of 50 feet with dives lasting for 5 minutes and use their whiskers to sense for movement in the water. Then they use their specialized paws and retractable claws to catch their prey before taking it up to the surface to eat. Sea otters use stones and have even been spotted using glass bottles and cement blocks, to break the hard shells of their prey. They keep these tools, as well as some food, stored in a pocket of skin, located under their front legs.  Along with seals, sea otters are the only carnivore to have 2 pairs of lower incisors instead of 3. Their teeth are also flattened and rounded to crush their food instead of tear it.  Sea otters aren’t just cute faces; their presence in the wild is vital to our ecosystem since they help to keep the sea urchin population in check. Sea urchins devour the stems of kelp, which causes the kelp to drift away and die, resulting in the destruction of kelp forests. Areas without sea otters are often full of sea urchins and lack kelp forests. Sea otters also remove mussels from rocks, clearing space for other species, thus increasing biodiversity.  With a lifespan of 10 to 15 years for males and 15 to 20 years for females, sea otters are preyed upon by orcas and sea lions, bald eagles are also a threat to young pups. Other than predators, another threat faced by sea otters are disease and parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite found in cat droppings which enter the ocean when cat litter is flushed.  Sea otters are one of the many wonders of the sea, being both adorable animals and crucial to the survival of kelp forests! Protect sea otters! |
