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January 2, 2017

Sooji Halwa | Suji Ka Halwa Recipe | Rava Sheera Recipe

Suji ka halwa
Most of the time I make South Indian style Rava kesari  ( Rava = semolina in English) for functions, pooja and celebrations at home as it is our family favorite and the most comfortable sweet for me. I have already shared varieties of rava kesari recipes like rava kesari with milk/ Paal kesari, microwave rava kesari, semiya kesari, pineapple kesari, mango kesari etc. 

Its been my long time wish to try North Indian style Sooji ka halwa/ Rava sheera. So I tried it for New year celebration yesterday. In North India, Suji ka halwa is one of the most popular and easy halwa recipes that is made in all houses for all the festivals & occasions and is served in most of the temples as Prasad. This halwa is served along with Poori and Chole for breakfast. Halwa poori chole is one of the most popular breakfast combo in North India and Pakistan. 

In Karnataka, people call this sooji halwa as Kesari bath. Rava/sooji, Sugar and ghee forms the basic ingredients for this sweet recipe. But Rava kesari, suji ka halwa and kesari bath has its own variations in the quantity of ingredients, method of preparation, taste, color and texture. I watched few You tube videos and followed Food viva for the recipe. 

Though it tastes mildly sweeter than the South Indian rava kesari, it was dripping with ghee and finger licking good. We loved it very much. Its taste reminded me of the banana sheera I had in my friend’s house Satya Narayana pooja. Its very easy to prepare for special occasions and to treat your surprise guests. For variations, you can use milk instead of water. Lets see how to make North Indian special suji ka halwa/ Sooji halwa/Rava sheera recipe with step by step photos and a detailed video !!


Suji ka halwa recipe

Suji Ka Halwa Recipe


Suji Ka Halwa Recipe Suji Ka Halwa - North Indian version of Rava kesari
Cuisine: North Indian
Category: Sweet
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 200ml or 250ml
  • Bombay Rava/ Sooji /semolina - 1/2 cup ( Do not use chiroti rava)
  • Ghee - 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp
  • Sugar - 1/2 cup
  • Water - 1.5 cups
  • Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp or 2 pods crushed
  • Saffron threads - few
  • Milk - 1 tbsp ( to soak saffron thread)
  • Chopped cashews, badam and few raisins/dry grapes
METHOD - HOW TO MAKE SOOJI HALWA

  • Soak saffron threads in 1 tbsp hot milk.I din’t use saffron in this recipe. I used cardamom powder alone.
  • Heat 1/3 cup of ghee in a kadai.Roast the dry grapes, cashews and almonds till dry grapes bloat and nuts turns golden. Add rava and roast well for 4-5 minutes in medium flame. Rava turns light golden brown in color.
    Suji ka halwa recipe
  • Add 1.5 cups of water to the rava and mix well till 3/4 th of the water is absorbed by the rava and becomes semi thick.Keep the flame low and cover the kadai with a lid. Cook the rava for 2-3 minutes.
    Suji ka halwa recipe
    Suji ka halwa recipe
  • Open the lid and add sugar, cardamom powder and saffron milk ( if using). Mix well without lumps.Sugar melts and the mixture will become watery. Keep the flame medium and mix well. 
    Suji ka halwa recipe
  • Halwa turns thick and starts to leave the sides of pan. Immediately add 1tbsp of ghee, mix well quickly and transfer the halwa to a bowl. Do not wait for the halwa to thicken completely. Remove it as soon as it becomes semi thick because this suji ka halwa becomes dry and hard when it cools down. So remove it at the right time. Garnish with few nuts and serve warm.
    Suji ka halwa recipe
Enjoy !

Note
  • Add more sugar ( Say 3/4 cup of sugar) if you need more sweetness.
  • You can use milk instead of water but cook the rava for more time if using milk.
  • Do not reduce the quantity of ghee. It helps to keep the halwa soft.
  • If you don’t want to add more ghee, use half the quantity of oil.

Sooji halwa recipe

Try this easy, yummy Suji Ka halwa/Rava sheera at home and enjoy !!

Sooji halwa
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December 31, 2016

Eggless Vanilla Cake With Gulab Jamun Mix – Recipes With Gulab Jamun Powder

Cake recipe with gulab jamun mix
During Diwali, I shared a post on how to make Gulab jamun using store bought, Instant MTR gulab jamun mix. As I got two packets of gulab jamun powder in buy one get one offer, I had another pack of gulab jamun mix leftover in my pantry. 

As I had already shared a jamun kofta gravy recipe, I was looking for some other interesting recipes with gulab jamun mix and came across this eggless vanilla sponge cake recipe. I tried the recipe with small changes and the cake came out super soft, spongy and moist. Raksha loved it a lot and took it for her school Christmas & New year party. She said, all the cake pieces vanished in no time and it got rave reviews from her friends. I was very happy and wanted to share this easy, foolproof  eggless vanilla cake recipe with you all. 

So I made this as my first ever guest post in my blogger buddy Lubna Karim’s blog “ Yummy Food”. Today I have shared the same recipe with step by step photos. Friends, If you are looking for some easy, yummy recipes using left over gulab jamun mix, this is one of the best options. Do try it for this New year celebration and enjoy ! Its a best teatime cake recipe. Ok, Lets see how to make eggless vanilla sponge cake recipe using gulab jamun mix. 

With this cake recipe, I am signing off this year 2016. I thank all my readers and friends for your continuous support and encouragement. With new hopes and dreams, I will catch you all in New year 2017 with a sweet recipe. 

I Wish all my readers a very happy and prosperous NEW YEAR 2017 !!

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December 28, 2016

Easy Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu Recipe Without Coconut – Chettinad Brinjal Gravy

Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu
Basically ennai kathirikkai kuzhambu ( Oil roasted brinjal gravy) is prepared by using freshly roasted and ground spices with coconut.I make my MIL’s pepper flavored ennai kathirikai kulambu at least once in a week as it is Sendhil’s one and only favorite brinjal recipe. Recently I tried this easy, no grind, Chettinad style ennai kathirikai kuzhambu without coconut just for a change. 

I followed the recipe from THIS BLOG. I loved it a lot with plain rice and papad/appalam. Its more like my vatha kuzhambu recipe but the flavor of masala coated, roasted brinjals in lots of oil makes a great difference in taste, color and flavor for this kuzhambu. Soon I will make a post about authentic ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe. Before that, do try this easy version. I hope you will like it. Now lets see how to make Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu with step by step pictures !

Don’t forget to check out my Ennai kathirikai poriyal , Brinjal masala kuzhambu , Brinjal masala fry, brinjal gravy for biryani !

Chettinad ennai kathirikai kulambu recipe

Chettinad Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu Recipe


Chettinad Ennai Kathirikai Kuzhambu Recipe Easy version of Ennai kathirikai kuzhambu  without coconut - Chettinad style no grind brinjal gravy
Cuisine: Chettinad
Category: Kuzhambu varieties
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Small sized brinjal - 10 nos
  • Small onion / Chinna Vengayam - 10 nos
  • Garlic cloves- 10 nos
  • Tomato - 1 no ( country variety/Naatu thakkali)
  • Tamarind - Small lemon sized
  • Red chilli powder -  2-3 tsp ( Kashmiri chilli pwd)
  • Coriander powder/Dhania powder - 2 tbsp
  • Salt & water - as needed
To temper
  • Sesame oil / Gingely oil - 1/4 cup 
  • Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
  • Fenugreek seeds - 2 pinch
  • Curry leaves - few sprigs
HOW TO MAKE ENNAI KATHIRIKAI KUZHAMBU - METHOD

  • Wash the brinjal. Mark X on the top of brinjals till half its way without cutting its stem part. Immerse them in water till use.  Soak small lemon sized tamarind in 1 cup of hot water. Take the extract and set aside. Peel onion, garlic and keep aside.
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kulambu recipe
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
  • In a small bowl, take 1 tbsp tamarind extract, red chilli powder, dhania powder, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well to make a thick paste. Fill the brinjals with this paste.Arrange in a plate.
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
  • Heat 1/4 cup sesame oil in a pressure cooker base ( I used cooked to make the gravy quickly and to save time) Reduce 1 tbsp oil if you feel too much of oil. You can make  this gravy in a kadai as well.Splutter mustard seeds, methi seeds, curry leaves.Add the small onions, garlic cloves and saute till onion turns transparent.
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
  • Add the masala stuffed brinjal pieces along with the remaining masala and saute well till the brinjal shrinks a bit.Add finely chopped tomato pieces, mix well for a minute. Add tamarind extract, 1/2 cup more water, salt and mix well. Let it come to a roll boil. Cover and pressure cook for one whistle in very low flame.Let the steam release by itself and then open the lid.
  • If cooking in a kadai, cover with a lid and cook till brinjal turns soft and gravy turns thick as you wish. Gravy thickens and oil oozes out. Mix well and serve with plain rice, papad !
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
    Chettinad ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
    Enjoy !

Note
  • Do not reduce the quantity of dhania powder as it helps to thicken the gravy.
  • You can replace red chilli powder + dhania powder with sambar powder too.
  • You can also add a small piece of jaggery if you like.
  • Add more chilli powder if you like spicy kuzhambu.
  • This gravy stays good for a week even without refrigeration as we are adding more oil.


Try this easy ennai kathirikai kuzhambu. Serve with plain rice, enjoy !
I had with plain papad. Yum!!
Easy ennai kathirikai kuzhambu recipe
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December 26, 2016

Easy Potato Sandwich Recipe - Indian Style Aloo Masala Sandwich

easy potato sandwich recipe
Bread sandwich is one of the easy to make & quick breakfast/dinner/snack recipes.In my family, none of us are a big fan of sandwich recipes.So I make them very rarely and that too mostly in busy week days if I have no choice for quick breakfast. This morning, I tried easy potato masala sandwich in Indian style for the first time with a loaf of fresh wheat bread/brown bread. It came out very well and we loved it. Especially Raksha liked it very much and told me to prepare the same for her school snack box & lunch box. I have prepared a no cook aloo masala and made it without spreading any chutneys or cheese. Still it was tasting good. It a very simple recipe. Bachelors and working women would love the ease of this recipe. If you like this stuffing idea, you can make any number of variations as per your family's taste. Lets see how to make this easy, simple potato sandwich/ aloo masala sandwich recipe with step by step photos !
Aloo masala sandwich

Easy Potato Sandwich/Aloo Masala Sandwich


Easy potato sandwich/aloo masala sandwich Easy potato sandwich/aloo masala sandwich toast in dosa pan
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Breakfast/dinner
Serves: 8 set
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 2 Minutes
Total time: 7 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

  • Bread slices - 15 nos (small sized, milk or wheat bread) 
  • Boiled potato - 4 nos (medium)
  • Cumin seeds/Jeera - 1/2 tsp
  • Fennel seeds powder/soambu powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1.5 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Finely chopped mint leaves or coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
  • Salt - as needed
  • Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp ( optional)
METHOD

  • Wash and pressure cook potato for one to two whistle in low flame. Once its cooked, Peel the skin and mash it well.
  • To the mashed potato, add chilli powder, garam masala powder, salt, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, fennel seeds powder, finely chopped mint or coriander leaves. Mix well.
    Aloo masala sandwich
  • Take 2 bread slices. Apply a tsp of tomato ketchup/sauce in one side of a bread slice. Spread the potato masala in another bread slice on one side. Close the bread slices and make a pair.
    Aloo masala sandwich
  • Heat a dosa pan and drizzle a tsp of oil /butter/ghee. Place the sandwich and toast both the sides in medium flame till it turns light golden brown on top. Cook patiently in low to medium flame to avoid burnt top. Grease with few drops of  ghee and Serve hot immediately for best taste !
    Aloo masala sandwich
  • For variations,you can add grated cheese over the potato masala and toast it. Kids would love it. Instead of tomato ketchup, you can spread green chutney or keep tomato slices, cucumber slices or even grated carrot for healthier options.
    Enjoy !
    Note
    • Adjust the quantity of spices as per your taste buds.
    • Use fresh milk bread instead of wheat bread for kids if you wish.
    • Do not toast the bread in high flame.Cook patiently to avoid burnt top.
    • For variations, you can add finely chopped nuts, raisins, pecans to the melted chocolate.Just play around.
    Make this easy, Indian style potato sandwich at home and enjoy !
    Aloo masala sandwich
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    December 23, 2016

    Easy, 2 Ingredient Chocolate Fudge Recipe With Condensed Milk

    Chocolate fudge with condensed milk
    I have never thought that making homemade chocolate fudge is so easy until I come across THIS easy, microwave chocolate fudge recipe with just 2 ingredients. As I wanted to share some easy recipe for Christmas & New year celebrations,  I thought of posting this simple dessert recipe with you all. Basically old fashioned homemade fudge is made using cocoa powder, sugar, milk, butter and vanilla extract from scratch. But this is an easy and quick Chocolate fudge recipe with just 2 ingredients - Sweetened Condensed milk & Choco chips. It came out really well with soft, chewy texture. I have used microwave to melt the Choco chips. It can be done on stove top as well.You can make any number of variations in this recipe by adding nuts, raisins, variety of choco chips like dark, milk choco chips etc. Do try this easy homemade vanilla chocolate fudge recipe with condensed milk. I am sure you will love it a lot. Lets see how to make this easy chocolate fudge using 2 ingredients with step by step photos and a video !



    easy chocolate fudge

    Easy chocolate fudge recipe


    Easy chocolate fudge recipe Easy chocolate fudge recipe with condensed milk and Choco chips - 2 ingredient fudge recipe in microwave
    Cuisine: Indian
    Category: Dessert
    Serves: 20 nos
    Prep time: 5 Minutes
    Cook time: 1 Minutes
    Total time: 6 Minutes


    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup - 200ml or 250ml
    • Choco chips - 1 cup ( Dark or milk Choco chips)
    • Sweetened condensed milk - 1/2 cup
    • Vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp ( optional)
    METHOD


    • Line a baking pan with parchment paper or thermal foil sheet.
    • In a bowl, take choco chips ( I used 1/2 cup of dark choco chips & 1/2 cup of milk choco chips) and sweetened condensed milk. Mix well
      easy chocolate fudge
    • Microwave in high power (800w) for just 1 minute. Remove the bowl and mix well with a spatula till all the Choco chips melt completely. Add Vanilla essence and mix quickly. Mixture will start to thicken.
      easy chocolate fudge
    • Immediately transfer the mixture to the baking pan. Level it with a spatula and pat it twice. Refrigerate the fudge for 1 hour.
      easy chocolate fudge
    • Invert the fudge in a plate and peel the butter paper. Cut into squares and serve ! It stays good for 2-3 days without refrigeration.
      easy chocolate fudge
    Enjoy !

    Note
    • I used a combination of dark & milk Choco chips in this recipe. You can use any as u wish.
    • Do not replace sweetened condensed milk with evaporated milk.It won’t work
    • Do not cook the mixture for more than 1 minute in microwave. Its enough for the Choco chips to melt. If not, keep for  just 30 seconds more.
    • For variations, you can add finely chopped nuts, raisins, pecans to the melted chocolate.Just play around.

    Enjoy this easy, yummy chocolate fudge for Christmas & New year celebrations !!
    The below picture is fudge after a bite !
    2 ingredient chocolate fudge
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    December 20, 2016

    Eggless Bread Pudding Recipe – Custard Bread Pudding –Indian style

    Bread pudding recipe without eggs
    Eggless bread pudding with custard sauce is an easy to make and one of the most popular pudding recipes. Long back I had shared an easy pudding recipe with agar agar/ china grass. After that, I was looking forward to try some interesting pudding recipe. 

    Recently I came across this easy, eggless bread pudding recipe using bread, milk, custard powder, butter, raisins( dry grapes) and nuts in a You tube video. I tried it using my leftover 3 days old bread.Its a good option to use the leftover old bread slices. Pudding came out very well. Even though we are not big fan of pudding recipes, we liked this very much. I have followed baking method. 

    You can try it in pressure cooker as well.This eggless, custard bread pudding tastes really good.Kids would also love it. After making this, I am eager to try out eggless caramel bread pudding too.Friends, do try this easy, Indian style pudding recipe during Christmas and let me know your feed back. Lets see how to make bread pudding recipe without eggs and condensed milk with step by step photos and a video !
    Check out my other dessert recipes using bread.

    1. Bread Halwa
    2. Shahi Tukda


    Eggless bread pudding

    Eggless Bread Pudding Recipe


    Eggless Bread Pudding Recipe Eggless Bread Pudding Recipe - Indian style bread pudding recipe using custard powder, milk.
    Cuisine: Indian
    Category: Dessert
    Serves: Serves 4
    Prep time: 10 Minutes
    Cook time: 45 Minutes
    Total time: 55 Minutes


    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup - 200ml
    • White bread/Milk bread - 6 nos
    • Boiled milk - 2 cups
    • Sugar - 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp
    • Vanilla custard powder - 2 tbsp
    • Butter - 1 tbsp
    • Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
    • Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp
    • Almonds or cashews – 10nos
    • Dry grapes or raisins – 1-2 tbsp
    • Water – 1/4 cup ( to soak dry grapes)
    METHOD

    • Soak dry grapes or raisins in 1/4 cup of hot water. Chop the almonds or cashews into small pieces.Take the bread slices and cut into small cubes. I din’t remove the sides of bread.
      Eggless bread pudding recipe
    • In a wide bowl, take the boiled milk.Add sugar, butter, custard powder, vanilla essence, cinnamon powder and mix well without lumps.( You can add condensed milk in place of sugar but quantity may slightly vary as per taste) Check for sweetness and add more sugar if needed. You can boil the milk for a minute till it starts to thicken.I din’t boil it. I added the milk directly to the bread pieces.
      Eggless bread pudding recipe
    • Now take a baking pan ( I used silver foil box). Grease it with butter. Arrange half of the bread pieces as the first layer. Pour half of the milk all over the bread pieces. Press it & Immerse the bread pieces in the milk using a spatula. Now sprinkle the soaked dry grapes and chopped badam/almonds.
      Eggless bread pudding recipe
    • Again layer the remaining bread pieces and pour the remaining half of milk. Press it well & Immerse the bread pieces in the milk using a spatula and mash it. Top it with the remaining soaked dry grapes and chopped almonds. Lastly sprinkle 1tbsp of sugar.
      Eggless bread pudding recipe
    • Preheat the oven in convection mode at 180c. Keep the baking tray inside the oven and bake it for 30 – 40 minutes OR till the top of bread turns golden brown. Remove the tray and slice the portion of pudding.Serve it hot or warm as you wish.Enjoy !
    Eggless bread pudding recipe


    Note
    • Adjust the quantity of sugar as per your taste.
    • Baking time may slightly vary. Mine got done in 45 minutes. Bake till the crust changes to golden in color. Do not over bake, the bottom may get burnt. So keep an eye after 30 minutes.
    • If you boil the milk + custard mixture, 20 minutes of baking is sufficient. As I din’t boil the milk mixture, I baked it for more time.
    Try this easy, eggless bread pudding and enjoy !
    Eggless bread pudding recipe
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    December 17, 2016

    Green Brinjal Masala Fry – Long Green Brinjal Curry – Kathirikai Vathakkal

    Green Brinjal masala fry
    Recently I bought some long green brinjal to try Vangi bath. After making vangi bath, I had some leftover in my pantry. So I tried this easy green brinjal masala curry for Andhra Kakarakaya pulusu ( Bittergourd gravy) from Kamala’s corner. It came out really well and tasted great with rice. If you like, you can serve with chapathi too. The actual recipe called for using purple brinjal ( Naatu kathirikai). But I used green brinjals. So you can use any. 

    Basically I am a big fan of brinjal recipes. But Sendhil & Raksha eats brinjal only if the dish is very tasty. They both loved it a lot. I am sure I will make it very often in my kitchen. Do try this easy, tasty Kathirikai Pirattal/ vathakkal at home. You will love it. It goes well with dal rice, sambar rice & curd rice. If you like, you can have it with chapathi as dry subzi. Lets see how to make Indian style brinjal masala poriyal / Long green brinjal fry with step by step pictures !

    Check out my other brinjal fry recipes too !

    Brinjal fry

    Ennai kathirikai poriyal

    Kathirikai curry – My MIL’s version


    Long green brinjal fry

    Brinjal Masala Poriyal Recipe


    Brinjal Masala Poriyal Recipe Kathirikai pirattal / Brinjal masala fry for rice
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Category: Side dish for rice
    Serves: Serves 2-3
    Prep time: 10 Minutes
    Cook time: 15 Minutes
    Total time: 25 Minutes


    INGREDIENTS

    • Long green brinjal - 2 nos OR Purple brinjal – 4 nos
    • Red chilli powder – 1.5 tsp ( I used Kashmiri chilli pwd)
    • Dhania powder - 2 tsp
    • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
    • Besan flour or rice flour – 1/4 cup 
    • Salt & water - as needed
    • Tamarind extract - 1 tsp
    To Temper
    • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
    • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
    • Urad dal - 1 tsp
    • Fennel seeds/ soambu – 1/2 tsp
    • Curry leaves - few
    • Big onion - 1 no ( finely chopped)
    Coriander leaves – To garnish ( 2 tbsp chopped)

    HOW TO MAKE GREEN BRINJAL FRY

    • Wash and chop the brinjals into 1 inch piece. In a wide bowl. take the besan flour, red chilli powder, dhania/coriander seeds powder, turmeric powder, salt and tamarind extract. Add the brinjal pieces to the spice powders and mix well.
    • Add little water if needed to make the masala coat well with brinjal. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
      Green brinjal curry
    • In the mean time, chop the big onion. Heat oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds, fennel seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and saute onions. Add the marinated brinjal pieces and mix well for few minutes in medium flame.
      long Green brinjal curry
    • After the raw smell of masala goes away, add little water (1/4 cup) and cover cook the brinjal for 5 minutes in low flame. Stir it once in the middle. Make sure brinjal is not mushy. It should retain its shape but cooked soft. Open the lid and check if its cooked soft. Mix gently and garnish with coriander leaves if you wish. Serve with sambar rice & curd rice. Tastes yumm !!
      long Green brinjal curry
    Enjoy !

    Note
    • Adjust the quantity of spice powders as per your taste. I made it mildly spiced.
    • Any brinjal variety can be used. But make sure masala used for marination should coat well. 
    • Do not over cook the brinjal. Cook in low flame by adding less water and cover it while cooking. It helps to cook faster too.

    Enjoy this long green brinjal masala fry with sambar rice or curd rice. It tastes yummy !

    Kathirikai vathakkal

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