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12/9/2020

Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

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A moist chocolate muffin with chocolate chips, this double chocolate muffin is a sweet breakfast treat!
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Recipe:

Ingredients

3 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)

Directions 

Preheat 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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11/20/2020

5 Little Guinea Pigs!

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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.  

TimeLine

July 24th, 2016

The 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.    
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Caramelo
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Oreo

March 25th, 2017

On 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.
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​Canela

September 30th, 2020

Caramelo unexpectedly passed away; we miss him terribly.  

November 19th, 2020

Similar 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.
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Their names were originally Speckles and Sunshine, however, the names didn't come naturally to us, so we changed them to Nutmeg and Noelle.  
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They are still shy but they have started to come out of their hiding space, and soon they'll warm up to us. 
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Nutmeg is on the left and Noelle is on the right

Guinea Pig Care

All 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!

Housing

If 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!
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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.  ​
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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:
  • Also, homes without a top are not only more convenient for cleaning, but they are also better for your cavy because they allow for more air circulation. 
  • Single-story homes are best for guinea pigs because as they get older, climbing onto the second story can become an obstacle.  Also, not all guinea pigs enjoy climbing. 
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.) 
Homes
Sheets
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Diet

Guinea 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! 
Timothy Hay
Fruits and veggies:
Fruits and veggies are a guinea pig's favorite, and they all have different preferences!  We feed ours...
  • carrots (we slice 1 large carrot into about 5 equal pieces and give them 1 piece each day)
  • tomatoes (1 grape tomato per day)
  • Pepper (We slice red and green peppers into several slices and give them 1 or 2 each day)
  • Clementine (1/3 clementine per day)
  • Cucumber (One 1/2" slice per day)
  • Strawberry (1 strawberry, very rarely)
  • Lettuce (1 leaf Romain lettuce, every once in a while) 
Caramelo's favorite veggie were tomatoes,
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Oreo's favorite snacks are cucumber slices,
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and Canela's favorite snacks are carrots. 
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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. 

Grooming

So that your guinea pigs are healthy, they need to be groomed regularly, including nails, ears, and baths. 
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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.
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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!

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11/16/2020

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

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A fluffy cupcake with a sweet frosting, these snickerdoodle cupcakes are a tasty twist on the classic snickerdoodle cookie!
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These cupcakes are a sweet treat that are great for a holiday dessert or for a weekend breakfast.
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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.
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Recipe

Makes 9

Ingredients

For 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a muffin pan with some extra vegetable oil (you can use paper cupcake liners instead, but vegetable oil is more environmentally friendly).
  2. To make the cupcakes, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  Add in the wet ingredients and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed.
  3. Pour the batter into the greased muffin pan, filling to just under the rim. 
  4. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the cupcakes have risen and are golden brown.
  5. Allow to cool for a few minutes (5 minutes should be fine) before removing from the pan. Then, allow them to cool thoroughly before frosting.
  6. To make the frosting, beat the vegan butter on medium speed.  Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and slowly pour in the coconut milk until you reach your desired consistency (it may require more than 3 tbsp.). 
  7. Frost the cupcakes and dust with some cinnamon.  Serve and enjoy!
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11/10/2020

Baked Ziti

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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! 
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Recipe

Ingredients

16 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

  1. In a food processor, blend together the tofu, nutritional yeast, basil, garlic, lemon juice, and rice milk until creamy and thoroughly combined.  Voila, vegan ricotta cheese!
  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F and bring a large pot of water with a generous helping of salt to a boil.  Add in the dry ziti noodles and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions.  Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, the parmesan cheese, and 3 cups of the pasta sauce.  Then add the cooked ziti and mix.
  4. In the bottom of a 13"x9" baking dish, spread 1 cup of your pasta sauce and then add the ziti.  Top with the rest of the pasta sauce and sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
  5. Bake covered for 45 minutes. 
  6. Allow to cool and serve!
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11/10/2020

Muffins

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Muffins are sweet treats that are perfect for both breakfast and desserts, and these are so good, you can have them every day of the week!  
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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:

Variations

Mint Chocolate Chip

Additional 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. 

Ingredients

Recipe

2 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 12-muffin muffin pan with some additional coconut oil.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the applesauce, rice milk, and coconut oil using a fork.  Mix until everything is well combined. 
  4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly until there are no clumps left.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the muffin pan and bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes so that you don't burn your fingers.  Remove the muffins from the pan and allow to cool a while longer (I like my muffins warm so I usually skip this step!).
  7. Serve and enjoy!

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11/8/2020

Chick'n Parmesan

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An authentic Italian dish, this plant-based chick'n parmesan tastes just like the real thing!
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Recipe

Ingredients

Cutlets:
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

  1. In a large mixing bowl, make the cutlets by mixing together the mashed chickpeas, soy sauce, and tomato sauce. Then, add in the vital wheat gluten and spices. Mix well.
  2. Mix in the vegetable broth, 1/4 cup at a time to form a sticky dough that holds together (you may not need all of the broth).  Knead the dough with your hands and form it into a rounded loaf shape.
  3. Slice the dough into 4 equally sized pieces and roll those pieces out into the shape of a chicken cutlet to your desired thickness.
  4. Steam the cutlets for 20 minutes by placing the cutlets in a steamer with about an inch of water, covered over low heat (you may need to add more water as it cooks).
  5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.
  6. In a large, shallow bowl, make the breading by mixing together the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and the dried parsley. 
  7. To make the batter, mix together the chickpea flour and water.
  8. After the cutlets have steamed, allow them to cool for a minute before placing them in the batter.  Let the excess batter to drip off, then coat the cutlet with the breading.  Repeat with all of the cutlets.
  9. In a large frying pan, add 1 and 1/2  tbsp. of the olive oil and cook the cutlets over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
  10. In a 9"x13" baking dish, add about 1 cup of tomato sauce (just enough to cover the bottom of the dish). Place the cutlets in the pan and cover with another cup of the sauce. Once the cutlets are coated, sprinkle Add another cup of sauce on top and sprinkle with the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
  11. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  12. Remove from the oven and serve with your favorite pasta!  As they say in Italy, "buon appetito"!
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11/6/2020

Crispy Onion Rings

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Oven-baked onion rings that are crispy and full of flavor, these are the perfect snacks for any occasion!
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Recipe

Ingredients

3 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
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Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  2. Slice the ends off of each onion and peel off the outer layer (you can discard this). Slice the onions into rings about half an inch thick, each comprised of 2 layers.
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour, rice milk, 1/2 tsp of the paprika, and 1/2 tsp of the salt. 
  4. In a separate bowl, mix together the bread crumbs as well as the rest of the paprika and salt.  Once mixed together, divide the bread crumbs into 2 separate bowls to prevent the mixture from sticking.
  5. Dip each onion ring into the wet mixture, coat evenly with the dry mixture, and place on a greased baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, remove from the oven, and serve warm.  Enjoy!
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11/5/2020

World Vegan Month!

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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! ​
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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:
  • You can save 198 animals annually
  • Reduce your carbon footprint by 73%
  • Prevent future pandemics
  • Increase your life expectancy by over 12%
  • Reduce your stress
  • and more...
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Fun activities

Bake as a Family

It'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. 
Mini Cardenales
Cinnamon Rolls
Pecan Pie

Vegan Empire Trivia

Trivia 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.
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Vegan Snacks

Whether 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! 
  • Cool Haus Dairy Free Dirty Mint Chip Frozen Dessert
  • RJ's licorice
  • Hippeas vegan white cheddar
  • Dandies all natural vanilla marshmallows
  • Lesser Evil no cheese cheesiness
  • Greyston vegan cinnamon roll blondie
  • Beanfield's Bean Chips Nacho
  • Wholesome Organic delishfish
  • Siete Chashew Queso Mild Nacho
  • ​Late July Sea Salt & Lime 
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visit (or donate to) a Farm Animal Sanctuary 

Vegans 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!
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Enter Vegan Empire's World Vegan Month Art Contest

If 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 
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10/16/2020

Old-Fashioned "Buttery" Biscuits

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A flakey outside with a soft, buttery inside, these old fashioned "Buttery" biscuits are the perfect addition to any breakfast.
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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!
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Recipe

Ingredients

2 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
  3. Use your hands to mix in the coconut oil so that the dough forms crumbs.
  4. Slowly add in the rice milk and stir until a sticky dough forms.
  5. Turn the dough out and knead 15 times on a lightly floured surface.
  6. Roll or pat the dough so that it is about 1" thick, before cutting with a cookie or biscuit cutter.
  7. Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Serve while still warm and enjoy!
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10/16/2020

Cannoli Dip

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A sweet dip that tastes exactly like a cannoli, this is a tasty treat all on its own!
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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!
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Cannoli Dip Recipe

Ingredients

1 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

  1. Beat together the ricotta, cream cheese, and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth.  This should take 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Add in the vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds.
  3. Taste the dip and add more sugar if needed.
  4. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand and enjoy!

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Ricotta Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

14 oz. firm tofu, drained and pressed
1 tbsp. lemon juice
3 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 tbsp. coconut oil

Directions

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until completely smooth.
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10/16/2020

Saucy Noodles

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A savory and flavorful pasta, these saucy noodles are a tasty ethnic dish!
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Sprinkle with some extra sesame seeds for presentation and a little extra flavor! 
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You can also make this recipe using your favorite pasta noodles, like fusilli!
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Recipe

Ingredients

1 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

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the broth, soy sauce, corn starch, maple syrup, lemon juice, ground pepper, and sesame oil.
  2. Heat a pan and simmer the sauce over medium heat.
  3. Mix to make sure that the corn starch has not stuck.  Add the cooked noodles to the sauce and mix. 
  4. Continue to cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and is absorbed by the noodles.
  5. Add some salt and pepper, to taste, if preferred.
  6. Serve and enjoy!
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10/15/2020

Snicker-doodLe Cookies

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A soft cookie full of cinnamon flavor, these snickerdoodle cookies are a delicious holiday treat!
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Not only are these cookies a great addition to your holiday party, they're also a sweet treat for and day of the year!
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Recipe

Ingredients

For 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

  1. To make the dough, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a baking sheet with some extra coconut oil.
  2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the sugar and butter to form a creamy mixture. This should take about 2 minutes. Once creamy, add in the vanilla and applesauce, and combine.
  4. Mix in the flour mixture, stirring until a firm dough has formed.
  5. To make the rolling mixture, combine the sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl. 
  6. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, before placing them on the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy
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10/15/2020

Crepes

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The best breakfast item in the entire world, these vegan crepes are also perfect for dessert!
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Recipe

Ingredients

1 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​

  1. In a medium medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the coconut milk, flour, sugar, and salt until there are no clumps left.
  2. Add in the rest of the milk along with the coconut oil, whisking until you have a smooth better.
  3. Lightly grease a frying pan and pour 1/4 of the batter onto it.  Tilt the pan to evenly spread the batter.
  4. Cook over medium heat for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the no wet better remains on the top. Lift the edges of the crepe with a spatula, grab the edge with your hands and flip te crepe over.
  5. Cook for about another minute.
  6. Transfer to a plate and repeat until there's no batter left.
  7. Enjoy!
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10/12/2020

Pecan Pie

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A flakey crust and an ooey gooey, delicious filling, this pecan pie is the perfect holiday treat!  
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Pie Crust Recipe

Ingredients

2 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

  1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour and salt.  Add in the coconut oil and milk.
  2. Use your clean hands to mix until a dough forms, making sure not to overmix.
  3. Use the dough immediately in the pecan pie recipe below!
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Pecan Pie Recipe

Ingredients

1 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

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Grease a 9" pie pan with some extra coconut oil.  Roll out the pie dough and place it into the pie dish.  Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork and cut off the excess dough. 
  3. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Set aside.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  5. To make the filling, place the cornstarch along with 1/4 cup of the water in a small bowl and stir.  Set aside.
  6. In a saucepan over high heat, add the remainder of the water (3/4 cup) and the maple syrup and boil for 5 minutes.
  7. Mix in the salt and the cornstarch-water mixture and continue mixing until the filling thickens noticeably.
  8. Once the filling has thickened, turn off the heat and stir in the coconut oil, vanilla, and the chopped pecans (not the halves!).
  9. When combined, pour the filling into the pie crust and place the pecan halves on top in a single layer.
  10. Bake for 30 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and set to cool at room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours.  Place in the fridge to cool thoroughly and set.  I suggest overnight.
  12. Serve and enjoy!
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10/7/2020

Maple Dip Donuts

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A tasty donut with a sweet, flavorful maple dip, maple donuts are by far the best donuts, and these are no exception! 
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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!
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Recipe:

Ingredients

For 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and grease a 12-donut donut pan.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together flax seed and water and set aside to thicken.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cane sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In another small bowl, stir the milk, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and flax-water mixture.
  5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients without overmixing. 
  6. Scoop the batter into a piping bag and pipe into the donut pan. 
  7. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven, and allow to cool in the pan before removing and letting cool thoroughly.
  8. While the donuts are cooling, make the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and maple syrup in a small bowl until you have a liquid glaze. 
  9. When the donuts are fully cooled, dip the tops into the glaze and let sit for a few minutes for them to set.  I like double dipping mine!
  10. Enjoy!
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10/5/2020

Chocolate Mousse

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A sweet, light, and airy treat, this is chocolate mousse is a delicious dessert!
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This is a fluffy and sweet treat that's perfect for any special occasion or family dinner.
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After using the aquafaba for this chocolate mousse, you can use the garbanzo beans for one of these other tasty recipes!
  • Crispy buffalo chick'n patties
  • Eggless salad
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Recipe

Ingredients

1 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

  1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the aquafaba, lemon juice, and maple syrup.
  2. Beat until the aquafaba forms stiff peaks and the mixture doesn't slide when the bowl is tilted.  Don't worry, you can't overwhip aquafaba.
  3. Gently fold in the melted chocolate, scoop into 4 large ramekins, and set in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight. 
  4. ​Top with some vegan whipped cream and enjoy!​
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10/2/2020

Cornbread

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A sweet bread, perfect as both a side dish or as a tasty snack, this cornbread is quick and easy to make! 
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Recipe:

Ingredients

1 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease an 8"x8" pan.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
  3. Stir in the rice milk and sunflower oil until thoroughly combined and pour the patter into the greased pan.
  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. Cut and serve.  Enjoy!
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9/25/2020

Crispy Buffalo Chick'n Patties

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Crispy on the outside with just the right amount of spice, these flavorful patties taste just like chicken!
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This sandwich is also tasty without the breadcrumb coating!  It's slightly less crispy, but still bursting with flavor!
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I enjoy my buffalo sandwiches when served on a warm bun with a side of vegan ranch!  
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Recipe

Ingredients

15oz 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

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F 
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the garbanzos until there are no clumps left. 
  3. Add remaining ingredients except for the extra bread crumbs and extra buffalo sauce. 
  4. Once everything begins to come together, mix with your hands.  Knead the dough for about 2 minutes.
  5. Divide the dough into 3 or 4 equal portions and form each of them into a patty.
  6. Coat the patties with the extra buffalo sauce so that it is completely covered in sauce.  Then press them into some extra breadcrumbs until the crumbs stick.  
  7. Place the patties on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. 
  8. Remove from oven, flip and bake for an additional 15 minutes. 
  9. Serve while warm and enjoy! 

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9/23/2020

Sea Otter Awareness Week

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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!
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​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. 
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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. 
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​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.
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​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.  
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​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.
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​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. 
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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. 
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​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.  
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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.
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​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.     
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​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. 
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​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. 
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​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. 
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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. 
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​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. 
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​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.     
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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.
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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!
Please Sign this ​Petition!

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9/18/2020

National PUPPY MILL AWARENESS DAY

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​There are countless puppies worldwide suffering from the horrors of puppy mills, from the unsanitary conditions to the lack of veterinary care.  Puppy mills have been around since after WWII, and with so many animals in animal shelters, waiting for a home, it’s time that they finally come to an end once and for all!
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​There’s only one thing that puppy mill owners care about: maximizing their profits.  To do so, they breed as many puppies in as little time possible, cutting corners to make breeding as cheap as they can.  This results in poor conditions including cramped, filthy cages, poor veterinary care and malnutrition.  
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​Female dogs are bred nonstop, even when they’re sick, injured, tired and known to have a genetic trait that may be harmful to her puppies.  When she can no longer have another litter, no effort is made to find her a home.  Instead, she is considered “useless” and either abandoned or killed!
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​Mother dogs spend their entire lives in confinement, being kept in cramped, stacked, wired crates or in outdoor pens that are subjected to harsh weather. Others are chained to trees where they continuously live on the same patch of grass and dirt.  Investigations have shown that they aren’t even given bedding to shelter them from the heat and cold.
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Breeding dogs don’t regularly go to the vet, not for check-ups nor vaccinations.  They don’t even go to the vet when they’re sick!  Neither are they bathed nor have their nails cut, resulting in overgrown nails that make it painful for them to walk and even stand.    
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​The unsanitary conditions for mother dogs and their litters results in a wide range of health problems for puppies, ranging from parasites to pneumonia.  These puppies are then shipped to pet stores where they are sold anyways.  Genetic disorders also lead to expensive veterinary care for owners, which may lead puppies to be abandoned.
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​Since puppy mill owners only care about maximizing their profits, as soon as there’s a buyer, puppies are separated from their mothers.  This results in fear, anxiety, and several other problems that can be difficult or even impossible to treat! 
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​After the stressful situation of being separated from their mothers, puppies are shipped to pet stores, either by plane or by truck.  Although there are a few standards on commercial breeding and transporting of puppies, they are not strongly enforced and there is no limit on the continuous hours puppies can be shipped nor how many puppies per vehicle.  Furthermore, truck drivers don’t need any animal experience to transport puppies! 
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Puppy mills only care about their own profits, not the well-fare of their animals.  There are so many animals at animal shelters looking for a home, so please do your part; adopt, don't shop! 

Spread the Word!

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9/15/2020

Oven-Baked Churos

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A traditional Spanish treat, these churros are oven baked, easy to make, and absolutely delicious!
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These churros are super soft in the inside and crispy on the outside.  
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Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup water
3 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tbsp. sugar plus 1/4 cup for coating
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. vegan butter flavored coconut oil, melted

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. In a small saucepan, heat water, coconut oil, 1tbsp sugar, and salt, mixing until the coconut oil melts and the water comes to a boil.
  3. Remove from heat and add the flour, mixing until a dough forms, and set to cool for 10 minutes. 
  4. In a loaf pan, combine the cinnamon and the rest of the sugar.
  5. Once the dough has cooled, place it in a pastry bag and pipe churros about 7 inches long on a baking sheet.
  6. Place in the oven and bake for 25 to 35 minutes.
  7. Allow to cool before brushing with the vegan butter flavored coconut oil and roll in the sugar cinnamon mixture.
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9/15/2020

Salsa Roja

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The perfect topping for your homemade pupusas, this recipe for salsa roja is quick and easy to make!
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Here's the recipe for Vegan Empire's pupusas!
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Recipe

Ingredients

28oz can whole peeled tomatoes
1 onion
1 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp. vegetable bouillon paste 
1 tsp. vegetable oil
  1. Add tomato, onion, salt and garlic to a food processor or blender and puree.
  2. ​Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat and add in the salsa. Stir in the vegetable bouillon. 
  3. Bring the sauce to a low simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
  4. Allow to cool completely and serve!

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9/15/2020

Pupusas

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A classic Salvadorian dish, pupusas are quite tasty; especially when served with salsa roja and a large helping of curtido!
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Find Vegan Empire's recipe for curtido here, and Vegan Empire's recipe for salsa roja here!
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Recipe

Ingredients

4 cups masa harina 
3 1/2 to 4 cups warm water
1/2 tsp. salt
2 to 3 tbsp. Violife cream cheese

1 can refried beans  (you can use homemade too)
2 cups shredded Violife mozzarella shreds

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the masa harina and salt. 
  2. Add in the warm water, a little bit at a time, mixing the dough with your hands, until you have a soft playdough-like consistency (you may not need all of the water).
  3. Roll the dough into large, golf ball-sized portions.
  4. Use your hands to shape the dough into discs with a diameter of about 4 inches.
  5. In a small bowl, combine the mozzarella shreds and the cream cheese.
  6. Place about 1/2 tablespoon of the beans in the center of the dough disk, along with a pinch of the cheese mixture. 
  7. Gently bring the edges of the disk up, over the filling and pinch them together to form a ball. Reform a disk by gently patting the dough.
  8. Heat a large, ungreased skillet over medium heat.  Once heated, place the pupusas on the pan and cook each side for about 2 to 4 minutes.
  9. Serve warm with a helping of curtido and salsa roja!  Enjoy!

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9/14/2020

Hummus Pasta

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A garlicy and flavorful pasta, this hummus pasta is a tasty dish that everyone is sure to love!
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This sauce is super creamy and easy to make!
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Recipe

Ingredients

2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, sliced (or minced)
1 cup spinach
1 cup hummus
1 pound of your favorite pasta
1 to 2 tbsp. lemon juice
Pinch of crushed red pepper (I like adding a bit more)
1 cup water
​1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

  1. Cook the pasta in salt water according to package instructions, drain, and place the noodles back in the pot to keep them warm.
  2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet, along with the salt and red pepper.  Add the onions and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until fragrant and softened.
  3. Add the garlic, and cook for an additional 30 seconds and then add the spinach and cook for about 1 minute, or until is wilts slightly.
  4. Mix in the hummus, water, and lemon juice, and stir until creamy. 
  5. Serve and top with Violife parmesan cheese!
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9/14/2020

Easy Peasy Fudgy Brownies

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Rich and fudgy, these brownies are delicious, you won't believe they're made with avocado!
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I like adding a dusting of powdered sugar to my brownies for a little something extra!
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Recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup avocado, mashed
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup cane sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup coconut milk 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together the avocado and coconut oil.
  3. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
  4. Pour the batter into a lightly greased 8"x8" cake pan and bake for 15 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. ​Allow to cool completely, cut into squares and enjoy!

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