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Strawberry Milkshake

>> Friday, July 20, 2012

Thank God It's Friday.. Time to relax, shopping, watching movies..... Ah! so much pending stuffs. Right now I am writing this post taking sip of delicious strawberry milkshake. Well, it's so hot here. I was about to grab soda when I saw these cute looking strawberries. Tadaaa.. here we have healthy, creamy, pale-pink strawberry milkshake. 



Sometimes, I do use frozen strawberries. But, this one is made with fresh strawberries. You know what guys, I never liked strawberries. But, then I started having Yoplait (strawberry flavored) and now I am actually loving it.. Also, my doctor said "Honey, you got to have strawberries, they are rich in protein.." I love home-made milkshakes, mind it, I don't want them to be loaded with ice-cream.


So now, let's move on to this simple yet delicious recipe of strawberry milkshake!!

Ingredients:

5-6 strawberries
1 cup milk
1.5 tbsp sugar
2 icecubes
1 strawberry - to garnish




Method:

Blend all the ingredients (except the one for garnishing) until smooth. Adjust sugar, if required.

Serve chilled. Garnish with strawberry slice.

Ready to slurp!!!

Note: The thick consistency depends on how many strawberries are used for preparing this milkshake.



Also, there is an on-going cooking event "Around the World - Thailand" on my blog. Click here for more details. Friends, do participate and make it a huge success.


Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Vegetable Cutlet

>> Friday, July 13, 2012

A sip of hot masala chai and a bite of vegetable cutlet reminds me of Indian Coffee House. I was craving for this for a long time. Finally got a chance to prepare them.


When I was a kid, I used to admire those who prepared cutlets. For me, cutlets were quite a unique thing to have. I thought, it takes lot of effort to prepare cutlets. And thats the reason I have never tried making cutlets. But, finally I did it. It was super easy and I enjoyed making those cute cutlets.



Ingredients:

Potato – 2,medium,cooked and mashed
Other Vegetables - 1 cup ( I have used carrots, peas, beetroot, and cauliflower)
Onion – 1,finechopped
Green chilli – 1,chopped
Ginger-garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
Bread slices – 2,dipped in water and squeezed to a pulp
Bread crumbs – 100 gms
Maida (all-purpose flour) – 2 tbsp
Oil – for deep frying



Method:

Pressure cook the vegetables until soft. Add mashed potatoes to it.

Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. Add ginger-garlic paste. Saute for few mins. Add chopped onion and green chilli.Add salt. Saute until onion turns transparent. Add the vegetable mixture. Mix well.

Add garam masala. Mix well. Cook until the mixture becomes dry.

Mix the bread pulp. Adjust salt. Let the mixture to cool down.

Make small balls and roll them into any shape. Make a thick paste of maida and 1/2 cup water. Dip the cutlets in maida paste and then roll them in the bread crumbs. Set aside for sometime (10-15 mins). Deep fry the cutlets until crispy.



Serve it with tomato ketchup.

Note: You can prepare cutlets before-hand and refrigerate them. Deep fry before serving.  Do not refrigerate them for long time. Usually 1-2 days may work.


Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Let's Party: Desserts Round-Up

>> Monday, July 9, 2012

First of all, I would like to thank Surabhi for giving me this opportunity to host this event. Thank you fellow bloggers for sending 70 entries to this event. As per the rules of this event, I have to pick the best recipe. Believe me, it is kinda hard.. So, I finalized with 4 best recipes.. This itself was so hard for me to pick the Final Four!! Also, we have top contributor and participation awards.

Before I declare the winner, let's move on to the virtual tour of 70 yummilicious desserts...

1. Rainbow Fruit Cake - Archana
2. Lychee in chocolate basket - Deepa
3. Chocolate Shortbread - Divya
4. Gulab Jamun - Jagruti

Jillu sent 14 entries
19. Red Velvet Cupcake - Manju
20. Graduation Cupcake - Manju

Renuka sent 3 entries

Sanika sent 10 entries
33. Sago Pudding

34. Mango Burfee - Sharanya
35. Mango Kesari - Sharanya
36. Chocolate Bread Pudding - Shweta
37. Microwave Kalakand - Sadaf

Surabhi sent 3 entries
39. Plum Cake


Finally, Nithu sent huge lot of 30 entries
56. Rasgulla
57. Palkova



Obviously, the top contributor award goes to Nithu from Nithu's Kitchen.


The four best recipes are:

Lychee in chocolate basket by Deepa

Chocolate Bread Pudding by Shweta
Malpua with Rabdi by Sanika
Chocolate Jamun by Jillu


I must say, all of the recipes are delicious and all deserved to be called "Best". Unfortunately, I cannot give this award to all the entries. So, here I have an award for all the participants.


I thank you all for your contribution. Thank you so much for sending those 70 delicious entries. Please collect your awards.
Also, there is an ongoing event in my blog, "Around the World - Thailand." Do participate in it. Also, if you are interested to host for "Around the World" cooking event, please comment here or email me at reshrite@gmail.com with country of your choice and preffered month of hosting.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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"Around the World - Thailand" cooking event

>> Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Independence day to all US residents. It is going to be a great evening; fireworks, carnivals, fairs.. Fireworks are my favorite!!! Hope you guys are going to have a great celebration...

Also, in this post I'm going to introduce a new cooking event. Though this post was supposed to be published on July 1st, but silly old me I forgot to schedule it. Today, when I logged in to post on Independence Day, I found this post still in draft.. Sometimes (or most of the times), I'm unbelievable!!

"Around the World" is a monthly cooking event where the host come up with a country of their choice and the whole month is loaded with recipes dedicated to that country. I've chosen "Thailand" as the star country of this event. From today onwards, for another 30 days we are going to see variety of Thai recipes.

                       

Let's have a virtual tour of the Kingdom of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.

Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Indian, Lao, Burmese, Cambodian, and Chinese.


Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal.

According to a Thai expert: "Thai food ain't about simplicity. It's about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord it's got to have a smooth surface but it doesn't matter what's happening underneath. Simplicity isn't the dictum here, at all".

Thai meals typically consist of a single dish if eating alone, or rice (khao in Thai) with many complementary dishes served concurrently and shared by all. It is customary to serve more dishes than there are guests at a table. Wow I'm loving it!! Yum Yum...

Guys, isn't it interesting.. When I read about Thailand, their culture, their cuisines, I got super excited and here we have "Thailand" the star country of this event. What you guys say??

Before, I move on to the rules for this event, I would like to thank all of those fellow bloggers who showed their interest in hosting this event on their blog. You can find the list of bloggers here. I still need you guys, come up and volunteer to guest host this event. If you are interested, leave a comment or email me at reshrite@gmail.com. Do mention country of your choice in the email.

To participate in this event, all you need to do is:

1) Prepare any Thai cusisine post them on your blog and link here. The linky tool will be open till Aug 1st, 2012. Non-Bloggers can send their recipes with the details to the my email id reshrite@gmail.com.

2) Please link back your recipes to this event announcement. Do include the logo in your post (mandatory requirement).

3) You can link as many links as you want.


4) Archived posts are accepted. Repost them and you are good to go.

So, now you can pull out your aprons, put on your thinking caps, and get ready to explore Thai cuisines!!


Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Around the World - A Cooking Event

>> Tuesday, June 12, 2012


Howdy bloggers?? Well, a treat for you all. I am going to host an event, a brainchild of mine, named “Around the World.” This event will be a monthly event, with each month dedicated to a country. 



If I am not wrong, there are 196 independent countries in the world. Whao!! I am pretty sure each country has its own collection of fantastic recipes. Being a foodie, I want to explore those recipes. I believe this would be a great opportunity for us to learn and share those recipes via this event. Isn’t so??

Honestly, being an Indian, I find myself confined to Indian recipes. Mostly, what I cook every day, revolves around India. Occasionally, I dare to cook Italian, Chinese or Mediterranean recipes. But mind it, occasionally. And I have seen this happens everywhere.  

Let’s start a mission to try, taste and share those unheard, untouched recipes. Each month, explore a country’s traditional, unique, and iconic recipes. Let our kitchen fill with the aroma never felt before. I know this would be challenging, and to make it more flexible, bloggers can try anything (vegetarian, beef, chicken, egg, fish, etc.) So, you cook what you like to cook. ;)

Before I begin this event, which is scheduled to begin next month, July 1st, I would like to know your views, comments, and suggestions. Do you want to add something to this idea, you are always welcome!!

Are you guys ready to take this ride????? BTW, the first event will be hosted on my blog, from July 1st to July 31st and the country would be “Thailand”.  Yeah, yeah.. I can hear.. “Thai” recipes.. Well, this is an unofficial event announcement. But, you can pull out your aprons, put on your thinking caps, and get ready to explore!!

Also, I need you guys. I need bloggers to host this event. Come, join me in this cooking trip “Around the World”. If you are interested in hosting the event, leave a comment or email me at reshrite@gmail.com along with the country of your choice.


Current Hosts:

Month                       Blog                                                 Theme
July                          Reshmi - Rasoi                                    Thailand
August                      Renuka - Pinch of Salt                          Italy
September                Pragyan - Sorisha                                Sri Lanka  
October                    Supriya - Supriya's Rasoi                      Kuwait
November                 Chef Mireille's Global Creations             Senegal
December                 Ez CookBook                                       Mexico
Jan '13                      Pragyan - Sorisha                                Switzerland
Feb '13
Mar '13

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Reposting for Exhibit every bite #1: Simple recipes

>> Friday, June 8, 2012



Masala Peanuts

This recipe goes to the "Exhibit every bite #1: Simple recipes" event hosted at Jiya's Delicacy.

                                                  
Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Kerala Style Aviyal

>> Thursday, June 7, 2012

Today, I'm going to share a very popular dish in Kerala, Aviyal. This authentic kerala dish is made with variety of vegetables cooked in coconut gravy. Moreover, Aviyal is a must item in Onam Sadya. This recipe is super easy yet delicious and healthy.


What I like about this recipe is adding coconut oil right before serving. This gives a unique aroma to the dish.  I just love that.

It is said that you can add any vegetables to it. But, in our family, we don't add potatoes. Instead, we prefer adding yam. I have seen recipes where potato is considered as one of the vegetables added in aviyal, and I'm sure they might taste good. If you guys prefer potatoes, do add them. Overall, whatever veggies you add blends well with the rich coconut gravy, yogurt and few teaspoons of coconut oil poured over them once cooked. I'm sure you will like this traditional kerala recipe.


Ingredients:

Mixed vegetables (yam, cucumber, beans, carrot, drumsticks, raw mango) - 2-3 cups
Yogurt - 1  tbsp
Turmeric Pwd - 1/4 tsp
Coconut (grated) - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

For Grinding:
Coconut (grated) - 1 cup
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Green Chilies - 2-3

For Seasoning:
Coconut oil - 3 tsp
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs

Method:
Cut all the vegetables slices (approx 2-inch long). Now, boil them with sufficient water and add turmeric powder to it. Each vegetable has a different cooking time. So, I started with adding vegetables like carrot, beans, drumstick, as they take more time to cook. When they are half done, add yam and cucumber. Finally add raw mango pieces. Boil it for couple of minutes and remove from flame.

Meanwhile, using grinding ingredients, prepare the coconut paste. Add it to the cooked vegetables. Mix well. Bring it to boil for another few minutes at low flame.

Remove from heat. Add yogurt and mix well. This is optional. If you are adding raw mangoes, you can skip adding yogurt. Now add the grated coconut, that was kept separately, over the mixture. I love the crunchiness coconut gives to the dish. Again, it is optional.

Finally before serving, add coconut oil and mix well. Do not miss this step. It is a must. Adding coconut oil gives a nice flavor to the recipe.

Garnish with curry leaves. Serve with hot rice.


Sending this as an entry to "The Kerala Kitchen" event hosted at Erivum Puliyum.

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Reminder:"Let's Party: Desserts" event

>> Wednesday, June 6, 2012


Bloggers, 9 more days to go. Till now, I have received 32 delicious recipes and I know there are many more to come. So, come on.. link your recipes. Those who haven't had a chance to link their entries yet, Click Here, and make this event a huge hit. I am waiting to see your entries.

Also, there is an ongoing Pearl Earrings giveaway on Lavanya's blog. My Freshwater Pearls are giving away pearl earrings to two lucky winners. So, all you need to do is visit the link below, follow the mandatory entry requirements, and you are in for the giveaway. Good luck!!



Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Announcing "Let's Party: Desserts" event

>> Monday, May 14, 2012

Hello friends! Tadaaaa.. here I come with this month's event, "Let's Party: Desserts". This event is a brainchild of Surabhi from My CookBook and will be hosted on my blog from May 15th till June 15th. Thank you so much Surabhi for letting me host this event. So bloggers, what are you waiting for? Start linking your recipes Email me your recipes and make this event a huge hit.. I'm so much eager to see your entries.


Rules for the Event:
  1. The theme for this event would be "Desserts".
  2. Vegetarian &  Non-Vegetarian dishes are allowed.(No Beef/Pork)
  3. Please post your link below and usage of the logo is mandatory.
  4. Must be a follower at the Blog or at Facebook.
  5. Archives are welcome only if re-posted and linked back to this announcement page and to Surabhi's page(only 1).
  6. As many entries are allowed.
  7. There are three awards to be given Top Contributor Award, Best Recipe Award, Participation Award.
  8. If you are having any problems linking up,just send me an email at reshrite@gmail.com.
    • Sub: Let's Party - Desserts
    • Your Name:
    • Recipe Name:
    • Recipe URL:
    • Recipe Photo:
  9. Non-Bloggers can also send me an email  at reshrite@gmail.com with the details as below:
    • Sub: Let's Party - Desserts
    • Your Name:
    • Recipe Name:
    • Email Address:
    • Recipe Photo:
    • Recipe in .doc format or .pdf format 

Guys, due to some reason the linky tool is not working here. Don't worry, I have access to 34 recipes linked so far. We have 3 more days to go, so email me your recipes at reshrite@gmail.com.


I will post the roundup and the name of the winners by June 24th. Come on bloggers, we have 3 days and I am pretty sure we have still more recipes to be sent for this event. Waiting for you all. 

Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Parippu Pradhaman / Moong Dal ki kheer

>> Monday, April 16, 2012

My mom prepares pradhaman during Onam, Vishu, and other special occasions.  She prepares variety of pradhaman like parippu pradhaman, palada pradhaman, aval pradhaman, and chakka pradhaman. I've never prepared aval and chakka pradhaman. You can find the recipe for Ada Pradhaman here.

Today I'm going to share Parippu Pradhaman. I've prepared it for this Vishu. Usually, parippu pradhaman is made using moong dal or combination of moong dal and rice. But, my mom prepares using a combination of moong dal and chana dal. So, I'm going to share my mom's recipe in this post.


Ingredients:

Split Moong Dal - 1/4 cup
Chana Dal - 1/4 cup
Jaggery - 1 - 1 1/2 cup
Coconut Milk (store bought) - 1 can
Dry ginger powder - 1/4 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
Cashew nuts - 10-15
Raisins - 15-20
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Coconut bits - 1 tbsp


Method:

Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Fry cashew nuts and raisins for few seconds. Keep aside. Throw in coconut bits into the same pressure cooker and fry for few minutes. Keep aside. Add moong dal and roast till nice aroma rises.

Now add chana dal and 2 cups of water. Pressure cook it until the dal turns soft. Mash the dal with back of spoon. Meanwhile, melt jaggery with 1 cup of water in a pan. Remove from heat and strain the jaggery syrup to remove the impurities.

Add mashed dal into the jaggery syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add coconut milk. Mix well and cook at medium heat. Stir continuously. Do not let the mixture to boil after adding coconut milk.

Once a desired consistency is reached, reduce the flame to low. Add ginger powder and cardamom powder. Mix well. Turn off the heat.

Add cashewnuts, raisins, and coconut bits to the mixture. Mix well.

Serve it and enjoy!!


Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Red Rice Flour Puttu ( Kerala Rice Flour Puttu / Chemba Puttu)

>> Friday, April 13, 2012

Today's treat is Puttu made with store-bought red rice flour. A very healthy and delicious breakfast. I usually prepare it on weekends. This dish is quite popular in South-India. I love to have it with coconut, little sugar sprinkled, and banana. DH loves to accompany it with kadala curry. You can find the recipe for kadala curry here.



Ingredients:

Red Rice Flour - 1 cup
Shredded coconut - 1/2 cup
Salt - as per taste
Lukewarm water - 1/4 cup

Method:

Take red rice flour in a wide plate, mix it with salt. Now, using your hand, sprinkle water little by little on red rice flour and mix well. When it has reached the texture of crumbs, stop adding water. But make sure that the flour is wet, otherwise it will not cook properly.

Take "puttu kutti, the utensil used to prepare puttu. Fill the pot with water and put it on flame. Now, take the top portion, and start filling it with a handful of wet flour and 2 tbsp of shredded coconut alternatively till it is full. I like to end with shredded coconut layer. Close the lid.

When water in the pot starts to boil, place the top portion over it. Reduce the flame to medium. Let it cook for 15 minutes.

Serve it with sugar and banana; or with kadala curry. Enjoy!!



Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Reposting for Divya's event: Showcase

>> Thursday, April 12, 2012



Mooli ke Parathe

This recipe goes to event "Showcase" hosted by Divya. Do visit her blog and participate in this event.



Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Semolina Kheer ( Sooji ki kheer)

>> Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Today I was craving for something sweet.. I was missing my mom's sooji ki kheer.. When I was a teenager I was bit conscious about my weight, and I used to scold my mom for preparing kheer or anything sweet. But, when you get married, you miss all those special days.. Infact, now I feel everyday in those 22 years were very special..

Today's post is dedicated to my Mom. I miss you so much dear!! Here we go with the recipe..



This is another super quick dessert.. If you have any unexpected guest(s) for dinner, this will definitely steal the show..



Ingredients:

Semolina (Sooji) - 1tbsp
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Milk - 2 cups
Cashewnuts - 4-5
Raisins - 9-10
Ghee - 1tsp
Coconut Powder - 1 tsp



Method:

Dry roast sooji in a wide pan on low flame. Turn off heat when sooji turns light brown.
Add milk, and sugar. Cook till it becomes thick.
In another pan, heat ghee and fry cashews till it turns golden brown. Before turning off the heat, add raisins and fry for couple of seconds.
Pour the cashews and raisins over the cooked mixture. Mix well. Adjust the sweetness.
Sprinkle coconut powder. Serve it and enjoy!!


Sending this entry to Sara's event "Cooking with love - Mom" hosted by Nithu's Kitchen.



Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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Masala Peanuts

>> Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Blogging after a long time.. I mean serious blogging. Was busy with my studies and I'm still busy.. There is an ongoing event in my blog "Cooking with Whole Foods - Peanut" and I wanted to contribute to this event. But, my busy schedule was holding me back. Last weekend, I got a chance to prepare this super-duper quick snack. Ready in minutes, spicy, and a perfect snack. Just toss all the ingredients and you are good to go.. A great appetizer for parties!!




Ingredients
 
2 cups raw peanuts, I prefer them with skin
1 small onion, chopped
1 small tomato, chopped
3 green chillies, finely chopped
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp chaat masala
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp ground roasted cumin
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice



Method

Take a wok, dry roast the raw peanuts until they turn golden brown. Once done, toss in the other ingredients. Mix well and adjust salt.



This goes as an entry to the event "CWF - Peanut" hosted on my blog and started by Kiran.



Have you enjoyed this recipe or photos? Do follow this blog, share it with your friends and help this blog grow. This will motivate me to carry on with my passion. Hope you've enjoyed your time here and thank you for visiting me!!!

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