Ok, so I LOVE mashed potatoes. But I want them ready when I get home from being at church meetings, volunteering, etc. I also hate watching them boil because I have a little climber who wants me to hold him every minute I'm standing in front of the stove. So I developed a way to get the potatoes cooked without me standing over the stove! This way you can do all of the prep work before leaving for the day, without worrying that the potatoes will turn brown! Pull out your slow cooker and your mixer, and you're good to go.
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes, cut in 2-inch cubes (peel if you want to)
Water to cover potatoes
Salt
(you'll add other stuff...milk, sour cream, butter, garlic, etc)
Wash, cut (and peel, if desired) your potatoes, place the pieces in your crock pot. Fill your crock pot with enough water to cover the potatoes. Add 1 tsp salt (if desired). Cook on high 3-4 hours, or low 8 hours or until potatoes are easily pierced by a fork. Drain liquid (you can use it to make potato bread or add some back to the potatoes instead of milk...the liquid is very high in nutrients). Place potatoes in mixer (or a big bowl if you're mashing by hand) and mix. Add milk, butter, garlic salt, sour cream, or whatever else you like in your mashed potatoes. Mix until they're as smooth as you like them. Serve and enjoy!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tasty Pizza Dough
Once again, I'm giving you a big recipe. I like to make this dough, cook one, and then freeze the other. Make sure to stretch the dough into the shape of your pan before you freeze it, so when you pull it out to cook it, you can throw it right into the pan, put the toppings on, and bake it. You'll save time and frustration. Rolling out frozen dough is NO FUN. :)
Pizza Dough:
3 cups warm water (110-120 degrees)
2 Tbsp. yeast
1 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. light olive oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
6 to 7 cups flour
Grease your pans (I like to use 3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a jelly-roll style pan with edges so I get that crispy texture on the bottom of the crust).
Put water in mixing bowl, add yeast and stir. Watch for yeast mixture to start bubbling.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil to yeast mixture. Stir.
Add whole wheat flour and 3 cups of flour. Stir
Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until your dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
Knead dough (you can use your KitchenAid or Bosch for this part, too)
Dough should be smooth, but not hard to knead.
Divide dough into two equal portions (or more if you want to make individual pizzas). Stretch into greased pan for cooking. If you plan to freeze, roll out dough to size of pan, place waxed paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and place dough on paper. Place in freezer until hard. Wrap in foil or plastic wrap and return to freezer until ready to use. When ready to cook, pull dough out 1 hour before cooking time, and place in greased pan. Watch for it to begin rising, you'll know it is time to put the toppings on!
Top the dough with pizza sauce, cheese (we like to use a mixture of mozzarella, cheddar, colby jack, Parmesan, and Romano), and toppings. If you want a stuffed crust, simply roll string cheese (pulled into 3-4 pieces) into edges of the crust. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes, until crust is browned on bottom (Convection oven: 425 for 10 minutes). Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then enjoy!
Cheesy Breadstick Variation:
Roll out dough, top with butter/margarine, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Salt, and cheese. Before baking, use pizza cutter to cut 1-2 inch strips in the dough. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes, until breadsticks are browned and cheese is melted. Serve with marinara dipping sauce. Great way to spice up your spaghetti dinner!
Pizza Dough:
3 cups warm water (110-120 degrees)
2 Tbsp. yeast
1 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. light olive oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
6 to 7 cups flour
Grease your pans (I like to use 3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a jelly-roll style pan with edges so I get that crispy texture on the bottom of the crust).
Put water in mixing bowl, add yeast and stir. Watch for yeast mixture to start bubbling.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil to yeast mixture. Stir.
Add whole wheat flour and 3 cups of flour. Stir
Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until your dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
Knead dough (you can use your KitchenAid or Bosch for this part, too)
Dough should be smooth, but not hard to knead.
Divide dough into two equal portions (or more if you want to make individual pizzas). Stretch into greased pan for cooking. If you plan to freeze, roll out dough to size of pan, place waxed paper or parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and place dough on paper. Place in freezer until hard. Wrap in foil or plastic wrap and return to freezer until ready to use. When ready to cook, pull dough out 1 hour before cooking time, and place in greased pan. Watch for it to begin rising, you'll know it is time to put the toppings on!
Top the dough with pizza sauce, cheese (we like to use a mixture of mozzarella, cheddar, colby jack, Parmesan, and Romano), and toppings. If you want a stuffed crust, simply roll string cheese (pulled into 3-4 pieces) into edges of the crust. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes, until crust is browned on bottom (Convection oven: 425 for 10 minutes). Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then enjoy!
Cheesy Breadstick Variation:
Roll out dough, top with butter/margarine, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Salt, and cheese. Before baking, use pizza cutter to cut 1-2 inch strips in the dough. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes, until breadsticks are browned and cheese is melted. Serve with marinara dipping sauce. Great way to spice up your spaghetti dinner!
New Waffle Recipe--Dry Mix and Freezer Directions!!
Here's some delicious waffles to try. I double the recipe, we eat some and freeze the rest for later. I've converted the recipe to include food storage items, so you can create a dry mix, if you want. Happy Waffling!! :)
4 oz flour (yep, you weigh it instead of using a measuring cup)
4 oz whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp egg powder (or 3 eggs)
1/4 c. plus 1/8 c. dry milk powder
Mix dry ingredients in medium mixing bowl. You can put this mix into a plastic container and add water and vegetable oil when you're ready to cook it. Or you can continue on...
Then, in another bowl, mix
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 and 3/4 cup water (omit 1/4 cup water if using fresh eggs)
Pour wet ingredients into bowl with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
Pour on hot greased waffle iron, and cook according to waffle iron manufacturer's directions. Enjoy! If you have some to freeze, place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer until they are hard. Place frozen waffles in a gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag. Label with date. To reheat, remove from freezer, reheat in microwave or toaster oven (my kids like them soft from the microwave, but I prefer them crunchy from the toaster oven).
4 oz flour (yep, you weigh it instead of using a measuring cup)
4 oz whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp egg powder (or 3 eggs)
1/4 c. plus 1/8 c. dry milk powder
Mix dry ingredients in medium mixing bowl. You can put this mix into a plastic container and add water and vegetable oil when you're ready to cook it. Or you can continue on...
Then, in another bowl, mix
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 and 3/4 cup water (omit 1/4 cup water if using fresh eggs)
Pour wet ingredients into bowl with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
Pour on hot greased waffle iron, and cook according to waffle iron manufacturer's directions. Enjoy! If you have some to freeze, place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer until they are hard. Place frozen waffles in a gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag. Label with date. To reheat, remove from freezer, reheat in microwave or toaster oven (my kids like them soft from the microwave, but I prefer them crunchy from the toaster oven).
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Award-Winning Wheat Bread
Yep, it really did win an award. This bread won 1st place in our Stake Preparedness Cook-Off. It makes great rolls, bread, pizza, cinnamon rolls, and breadsticks. It's light, delicious, and nutritious. You'll love it. Give it a try!
Whole Wheat Bread
(Yield: 3 large loaves. You can split the recipe in half or third if you don’t need that much bread. Also makes awesome rolls, cinnamon rolls, breadsticks, etc. Or better yet, make the whole batch and share some! Dough freezes well in Ziploc freezer bags. Just freeze before rising, remove from freezer a few hours before you’re ready to bake it, let it rise, and you have fresh bread.)
Ingredients
3 cups warm water (110 to 120 degrees)
3 Tbsp Instant Active Dry Yeast
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Salt
2/3 Cup Olive Oil
2/3 Cup Honey
6 Cups Whole Wheat Flour (if you grind it yourself, you need to add 1 Tbsp Wheat Gluten per cup of Whole Wheat Flour)
1-3 Cups All-Purpose or Bread Flour
You can make this by hand, or you can use your Bosch or KitchenAid with the dough hook. Pour warm water into large bowl, sprinkle yeast on top of water, add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Let stand for 1 to 5 minutes, to make sure that yeast is active and bubbling. If yeast does not rise or bubble after 5 minutes, discard and start again or use dough for breadsticks or pizza dough. Add salt, olive oil, and honey to yeast mixture. Stir well. Add 6 cups whole wheat flour (and gluten, if you need it) to yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Add all-purpose or bread flour ½ cup at a time until dough is smooth and elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This dough should not be hard to knead. Remove from bowl and knead (or use mixer to knead for 3-5 minutes). Shape into loaves, rolls, or roll out for cinnamon rolls or breadsticks. Put in greased pan (or use stoneware, my personal favorite). Let rise until double in size. Bake loaves at 350 degrees for 40-55 minutes, depending on size of loaves. If baking in a convection oven, bake loaves for 25 minutes. Bake rolls for 15+ minutes (depending on size of rolls). Bake pizzas at 500 degrees for 10 minutes (I’ve only tried this in a convection oven, so I don’t know how it works in a standard oven).
Whole Wheat Bread
(Yield: 3 large loaves. You can split the recipe in half or third if you don’t need that much bread. Also makes awesome rolls, cinnamon rolls, breadsticks, etc. Or better yet, make the whole batch and share some! Dough freezes well in Ziploc freezer bags. Just freeze before rising, remove from freezer a few hours before you’re ready to bake it, let it rise, and you have fresh bread.)
Ingredients
3 cups warm water (110 to 120 degrees)
3 Tbsp Instant Active Dry Yeast
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Salt
2/3 Cup Olive Oil
2/3 Cup Honey
6 Cups Whole Wheat Flour (if you grind it yourself, you need to add 1 Tbsp Wheat Gluten per cup of Whole Wheat Flour)
1-3 Cups All-Purpose or Bread Flour
You can make this by hand, or you can use your Bosch or KitchenAid with the dough hook. Pour warm water into large bowl, sprinkle yeast on top of water, add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Let stand for 1 to 5 minutes, to make sure that yeast is active and bubbling. If yeast does not rise or bubble after 5 minutes, discard and start again or use dough for breadsticks or pizza dough. Add salt, olive oil, and honey to yeast mixture. Stir well. Add 6 cups whole wheat flour (and gluten, if you need it) to yeast mixture. Stir until combined. Add all-purpose or bread flour ½ cup at a time until dough is smooth and elastic, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This dough should not be hard to knead. Remove from bowl and knead (or use mixer to knead for 3-5 minutes). Shape into loaves, rolls, or roll out for cinnamon rolls or breadsticks. Put in greased pan (or use stoneware, my personal favorite). Let rise until double in size. Bake loaves at 350 degrees for 40-55 minutes, depending on size of loaves. If baking in a convection oven, bake loaves for 25 minutes. Bake rolls for 15+ minutes (depending on size of rolls). Bake pizzas at 500 degrees for 10 minutes (I’ve only tried this in a convection oven, so I don’t know how it works in a standard oven).
Baked French Toast and Challah Bread
Hey All!
Here's one of my favorites. I just remembered it because I'm making it today.
Oven-Baked French Toast
Everyday Food Magazine, adapted by Avalie
4 Large Eggs
1 and 1/2 cups milk (can use church cannery dried milk reconstituted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
4 thick slices challah bread or other egg bread (recipe for Challah bread below)
2 Tbsp melted butter
In a 9x13 baking dish, whisk together eggs, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Arrange bread in dish in a single layer; let soak 15 minutes in refrigerator.
Turn bread over; cover, and refrigerate until most of the liquid is absorbed, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350.
Brush a rimmed baking sheet (I like stoneware better) with butter.
With a spatula, carefully transfer soaked bread to sheet.
Bake until French toast is set in center and lightly browned on the bottom, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve or cool and freeze in ziploc freezer bags.
To reheat frozen French toast, heat in microwave or toaster oven until warmed through. Serve with syrup, powdered sugar, or jam. SO TASTY! This is as fast as Eggo Waffles to reheat from frozen. Way better for you, and WAY better tasting (not to mention very cheap to make!) I make one or two batches of Challah Bread, and it makes LOADS of French toast. I just cook up a few dozen pieces, then freeze them. My family can help themselves to a great meal out of the freezer whenever they want it!
Challah Bread (we use it for French Toast)
Handmade Breads by Kathy Summers --this is an AWESOME BOOK! (Ordering info: see below)
You don't need a mixer to make this delicious bread. I have to admit, I do use my KitchenAid, since we make bread multiple times each week.
1 and 3/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup light olive oil
4 large eggs
6 to 7 cups bread flour (or unbleached flour)
Spray large baking pan with non-stick cooking spray (I use stoneware baking pans)
Measure warm water (110 to 115 degrees F) into a large mixing bowl
Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the warm water, add the sugar and stir until they dissolve.
Add salt, oil, and eggs to the yeast mixture. Stir.
Add 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture. Stir vigorously.
Add 1 to 2 cups more flour, approximately 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until the dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead in 1/2 to 1 cup flour until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. The dough should not be hard to knead.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the dough into two pieces for two loaves, or three pieces for one large braided loaf. Roll each piece into a loaf shape (or long ropes if you are going to braid it). Place on a greased baking pan.
Let the dough rise until almost doubled in size
Brush the top with a beaten egg, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from pan. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.
If making into French toast, cut into 1-inch thick slices.
Handmade Breads by Kathy Summers (one of our friends from Hawaii)
Ordering Information:
963 Holoholo Street
Kailua, Hawaii 96734
Here's one of my favorites. I just remembered it because I'm making it today.
Oven-Baked French Toast
Everyday Food Magazine, adapted by Avalie
4 Large Eggs
1 and 1/2 cups milk (can use church cannery dried milk reconstituted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
4 thick slices challah bread or other egg bread (recipe for Challah bread below)
2 Tbsp melted butter
In a 9x13 baking dish, whisk together eggs, milk, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Arrange bread in dish in a single layer; let soak 15 minutes in refrigerator.
Turn bread over; cover, and refrigerate until most of the liquid is absorbed, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350.
Brush a rimmed baking sheet (I like stoneware better) with butter.
With a spatula, carefully transfer soaked bread to sheet.
Bake until French toast is set in center and lightly browned on the bottom, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve or cool and freeze in ziploc freezer bags.
To reheat frozen French toast, heat in microwave or toaster oven until warmed through. Serve with syrup, powdered sugar, or jam. SO TASTY! This is as fast as Eggo Waffles to reheat from frozen. Way better for you, and WAY better tasting (not to mention very cheap to make!) I make one or two batches of Challah Bread, and it makes LOADS of French toast. I just cook up a few dozen pieces, then freeze them. My family can help themselves to a great meal out of the freezer whenever they want it!
Challah Bread (we use it for French Toast)
Handmade Breads by Kathy Summers --this is an AWESOME BOOK! (Ordering info: see below)
You don't need a mixer to make this delicious bread. I have to admit, I do use my KitchenAid, since we make bread multiple times each week.
1 and 3/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup light olive oil
4 large eggs
6 to 7 cups bread flour (or unbleached flour)
Spray large baking pan with non-stick cooking spray (I use stoneware baking pans)
Measure warm water (110 to 115 degrees F) into a large mixing bowl
Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the warm water, add the sugar and stir until they dissolve.
Add salt, oil, and eggs to the yeast mixture. Stir.
Add 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture. Stir vigorously.
Add 1 to 2 cups more flour, approximately 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until the dough pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl.
Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead in 1/2 to 1 cup flour until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. The dough should not be hard to knead.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the dough into two pieces for two loaves, or three pieces for one large braided loaf. Roll each piece into a loaf shape (or long ropes if you are going to braid it). Place on a greased baking pan.
Let the dough rise until almost doubled in size
Brush the top with a beaten egg, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.
Remove from pan. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.
If making into French toast, cut into 1-inch thick slices.
Handmade Breads by Kathy Summers (one of our friends from Hawaii)
Ordering Information:
963 Holoholo Street
Kailua, Hawaii 96734
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Vegetarian Dish
I adore French Onion Soup. So when I found a recipe for it, I thought I'd give it a try. Then I discovered that it can be frozen. Yipee! I'm still working with it a little. I don't think its salty enough. I'm going to make another batch today, and I'll let you know what I discover. Meanwhile, here's the recipe:
French Onion Soup
6 onions, sliced thin
4 Tbsp Butter
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 cups water
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. dried thyme
French Bread
Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Melt butter over med-low heat in 12-inch skillet. Add onions and salt to cook. When onions are tender, and begin to carmelize (45 minutes), reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, 15 minutes more until turn deep golden brown. Transfer onions to another pot. Add water, beef broth, and thyme.
Heat to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 450.
Bake French bread for 10 minutes
Place oven-proof bowls on pan. Spoon soup into bowls.
Top soup with bread, then grate Gruyere or Swiss cheese onto bread.
Bake 12-15 minutes, until cheese has melted and begun to brown.
To FREEZE: Ladle soup into individual freezer containers (plastic or pint mason jars), let cool. Place slice of bread in plastic ziploc bag, grate cheese into another ziploc bag. Seal cheese bag, place inside of bread bag, label. Put lid on soup, tape bread/cheese bag to soup container. Freeze. When ready to reheat, thaw soup in refrigerator or microwave. No need to thaw bread and cheese. Then follow last two instructions in recipe. Bread and cheese will take longer to brown from frozen. Enjoy!
French Onion Soup
6 onions, sliced thin
4 Tbsp Butter
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 cups water
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. dried thyme
French Bread
Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Melt butter over med-low heat in 12-inch skillet. Add onions and salt to cook. When onions are tender, and begin to carmelize (45 minutes), reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, 15 minutes more until turn deep golden brown. Transfer onions to another pot. Add water, beef broth, and thyme.
Heat to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 450.
Bake French bread for 10 minutes
Place oven-proof bowls on pan. Spoon soup into bowls.
Top soup with bread, then grate Gruyere or Swiss cheese onto bread.
Bake 12-15 minutes, until cheese has melted and begun to brown.
To FREEZE: Ladle soup into individual freezer containers (plastic or pint mason jars), let cool. Place slice of bread in plastic ziploc bag, grate cheese into another ziploc bag. Seal cheese bag, place inside of bread bag, label. Put lid on soup, tape bread/cheese bag to soup container. Freeze. When ready to reheat, thaw soup in refrigerator or microwave. No need to thaw bread and cheese. Then follow last two instructions in recipe. Bread and cheese will take longer to brown from frozen. Enjoy!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Apples
Boy, do I love desserts! Here's my favorite Apple Crisp recipe. It's my own creation...inspired by many of my favorite pie and crisp recipes, and (of course), it's great for the freezer. You can make a bunch of crisps in disposable pie tins, cover them with foil, and put them away in your freezer for special occasions.
Avalie's Delicious Apple Crisp
FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
4 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
Avalie's Famous Crumb TOPPING (makes enough for 3+ crisps):
2 cups oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup cold margarine/butter
Peel and slice apples, pour lemon juice over apples. Mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if desired) in a small bowl. Pour sugar mixture over apples and mix until coated. Pour apple mixture into pie tin or small casserole dish.
Combine oats, flour, sugars, margarine/butter in KitchenAid mixer (or cut-in with a pastry blender) until resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over cobbler(s).
BAKE: Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes, or until apples are tender. Serve alone, or with whipped cream or ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers. Reheats great in microwave.
TO FREEZE: Finish assembling crisp, cover with foil, label, and freeze.
TO BAKE FROM FROZEN: Preheat oven to 375. Bake, covered, 1 hour, or until apples are tender.
VARIATION: Put a pie crisp in the pie tin, fill with apple mixture, and top with crumb topping. Now you have an Apple Crumb Pie. Bake 375 for 1 hour, until pie crust is baked. Delicious!
Avalie's Delicious Apple Crisp
FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
4 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
Avalie's Famous Crumb TOPPING (makes enough for 3+ crisps):
2 cups oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup cold margarine/butter
Peel and slice apples, pour lemon juice over apples. Mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if desired) in a small bowl. Pour sugar mixture over apples and mix until coated. Pour apple mixture into pie tin or small casserole dish.
Combine oats, flour, sugars, margarine/butter in KitchenAid mixer (or cut-in with a pastry blender) until resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over cobbler(s).
BAKE: Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes, or until apples are tender. Serve alone, or with whipped cream or ice cream. Refrigerate leftovers. Reheats great in microwave.
TO FREEZE: Finish assembling crisp, cover with foil, label, and freeze.
TO BAKE FROM FROZEN: Preheat oven to 375. Bake, covered, 1 hour, or until apples are tender.
VARIATION: Put a pie crisp in the pie tin, fill with apple mixture, and top with crumb topping. Now you have an Apple Crumb Pie. Bake 375 for 1 hour, until pie crust is baked. Delicious!
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