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30 Minutes or Less

One-Pan Kung Pao Tofu

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overhead close-up image of kung pao tofu in a pan

This kung pao tofu will quickly become one of your favorite dinner recipes! One pan and 15 minutes is all you need for this intensely flavorful meal. This kung pao tofu is also entirely vegan, plant-based, and gluten-free!

kung pao tofu on a plate over rice, with sesame seeds on top

What You’ll Need

Extra Firm Tofu – Extra firm tofu is the key to getting it super crispy! It will hold its shapes once cut and cooked, forming these little golden brown nuggets of perfection. Tofu is also the perfect blank canvas to really any recipe! It has very little flavor on its own, but absorbs all the flavors it’s paired with. The tofu in this recipe soaks up all of our delicious kung pao sauce, making it just incredible!

Red and Green Bell Peppers – Two bell peppers give this dish incredible color and brightness! Start by removing the core and any seeds from each pepper. Then, chop them into similarly-sized pieces. Stir fry the bell peppers for only a couple of minutes in the fourth step of this recipe. The goal is to get them tender, while still maintaining their bite.

Unsalted Cashews or Peanuts – You’ll find either cashews or peanuts in most kung pao recipes. They, too, give this overall dish the perfect crunchy texture that pairs beautifully with our smooth and tangy sauce. However, if you don’t like nuts, you can simply leave them out of your kung pao tofu.

kung pao tofu in a pan

Top Tips

  • Oil your pan well before frying up the tofu. If not enough oil is used, your tofu might stick to the pan – losing that delicious outer, crisp coating!
  • For an even saucier vegetable stir fry, double the sauce recipe! This kung pao tofu sauce is seriously so good, you’ll practically want to drink it. So don’t skimp on the sauce, and make as much as you’d like!
  • Feel free to turn this into a kung pao chicken recipe instead! To do this, simply replace the tofu with 2-inch cubes of chicken and cook them in the second step until fully cooked through. Then, use your chicken just as you would the tofu in the remainder of the recipe.
close-up image of kung pao tofu on a plate over rice

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Gluten-Free: To ensure this recipe is completely gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce. Tamari is the gluten-free equivalent to soy sauce and tastes exactly the same!
  • Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free version, simple leave out the cashews or peanuts in this recipe. But if you’d still like that nutty flavor, you can add in a couple tablespoons of sesame seeds instead.
One-Pan Kung Pao Tofu
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One-Pan Kung Pao Tofu

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

This kung pao tofu will quickly become one of your favorite dinner recipes! One pan and 15 minutes is all you need for this intensely flavorful meal. This kung pao tofu is also entirely vegan, plant-based, and gluten-free!

Ingredients

  • For the tofu:

  • 14 ounces extra firm tofu, cut into cubes

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil or avocado oil

  • For the veggies:

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2-inch piece ginger, grated

  • 3 scallions, sliced (white and green parts separated)

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 cup raw unsalted cashews or peanuts

  • For the sauce:

  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce, use Tamari for gluten-free

  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

  • 2 teaspoons corn starch

  • 1 teaspoon sriracha

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions

  • Place cubed tofu in a bowl with cornstarch and toss to evenly coat.
    • Kung-Pao-Tofu-Step-1
  • Heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, then fry tofu in a single layer for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove cooked tofu and set aside.
    • Kung-Pao-Tofu-Step-2
  • Add garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallions to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
    • Kung-Pao-Tofu-Step-3
  • Add in red and green bell peppers, sauté for 2-3 minutes then place tofu back into pan along with green parts of scallions and cashews or peanuts.
    • Kung-Pao-Tofu-Step-4
  • Whisk together all sauce ingredients in a bowl, then pour into pan and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until sauce has thickened then serve over rice.
    • Kung-Pao-Tofu-Step-5

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30 Minutes or Less

Bang Bang Shrimp Bowls

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close-up overhead image of bang bang shrimp bowl with cucumber, edamame, pickled red onion, and white rice

For a quick, easy, and delicious dinner – make these perfect bang bang shrimp bowls! Crispy cooked shrimp is tossed in a spicy, tangy bang bang sauce, then spooned over rice and a variety of veggies. Whip together this restaurant-quality meal in under 15 minutes, I promise you won’t regret it!

bang bang shrimp bowl with shrimp, cucumber, edamame, and pickled red onion

What You’ll Need To Make This Recipe

Shrimp – Do yourself a favor and purchase peeled and deveined shrimp for this recipe. Then, if the tails haven’t already been removed, go ahead and remove them before cooking the shrimp. If left one, the shrimp tails are a nightmare to remove once covered in bang bang sauce. So, make life a little easier and strip those shrimp before cooking!

Harissa Paste – Harissa is chili paste commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking. It’s delightfully spicy and loaded with delicious flavor. You should be able to find harissa paste at your local grocery store in either the spice aisle or ethnic food aisle. Though if you can’t find harissa paste available for purchase, there are a few homemade recipes floating around on the internet, such as this one.

Soy Sauce or Coconut Aminos – A touch of soy sauce adds a bit of tang to our bang bang shrimp sauce. It’s the perfect addition to help round out the savory flavors! Though if you’re paleo or currently on Whole30, feel free to use coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce in this recipe. It’ll provide that same irresistible briny flavor!

Cooked Rice – Use whatever kind of rice you’d like! White rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice… you get the idea. The use of cauliflower rice makes for a great low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 option!

Top Tips

  • Get the avocado oil in your skillet hot before adding in the shrimp. We want a nice, golden brown and crispy crust on our shrimp, and can only achieve this by cooking them in very hot oil. And thanks to the use of high heat, the shrimp will only take a few minutes per side to cook!
  • You can make this bang bang shrimp recipe in the air fryer if you’d like! To do this, simply add your shrimp to an air fryer basket, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, then cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Once shrimp is fully cooked, toss in the bang bang sauce and continue with the recipe as normal.
  • Ditch the bowls and serve this easy seafood dish however you’d like! Poke each shrimp with a toothpick to serve as a delicious appetizer. Or, place in lettuce wraps for super healthy bang bang shrimp tacos!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Paleo/Whole30 – For a paleo or Whole30 meal, be sure to use compliant mayo, coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, and cauliflower rice in place of white or brown rice.

Make it Gluten-Free – The only ingredient in this dish which contains trace amounts of gluten is the soy sauce. Therefore, use tamari in place of the soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free, I promise you won’t be able to taste the difference!

Make it Vegan – Fry up some cubed tofu in a bit of avocado oil (similar to how you would the shrimp) then use a vegan mayo for your sauce. Once the tofu’s crispy, add it to your sauce and serve it over bowls of rice and veggies!

Bang Bang Shrimp Bowls
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Bang Bang Shrimp Bowls

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: Main, AppetizersDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

For a quick, easy, and delicious dinner – make these perfect bang bang shrimp bowls! Crispy cooked shrimp is tossed in a spicy, tangy bang bang sauce, then spooned over rice and a variety of veggies. Whip together this restaurant-quality meal in under 15 minutes, I promise you won’t regret it!

Ingredients

  • For the shrimp:

  • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil, or any neutral vegetable oil

  • pinch of salt

  • For the bang bang sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon harissa paste

  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce or coconut aminos

  • 1 teaspoon lime juice

  • For the bowls:

  • Cooked white or brown rice

  • Scallions, chopped

  • Pickled veggies

  • Sesame seeds

  • Cucumber, thinly sliced

  • Edamame

Directions

  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel, season with a pinch of salt, then place in skillet and cook about 3-4 minutes per side or until opaque and slightly crispy.
  • Mix together all bang bang sauce ingredients in a large bowl. Add cooked shrimp to bowl and toss to coat in sauce.
  • Place bang bang shrimp over bowls of rice, and finish off with whatever other toppings you’d like.

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Skillet Salmon Recipe

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sun dried tomato salmon recipe in a skillet with while wine and fresh parsley on the side

Perfectly seared salmon in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce, ready in under 30 minutes! This simple weeknight meal requires just one skillet and comes together in a flash. The perfect recipe when you’re craving seared salmon, with lots of delicious flavor!

creamy sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe in a skillet with fresh parsley and lemon slices on top

Main Ingredients

Salmon Fillets – I used and recommend Atlantic salmon for this recipe. Atlantic salmon is buttery, flaky, and totally delicious. It’s pretty common, and shouldn’t be hard to find at your local grocery store or seafood counter. Sockeye is another very common type salmon, and will work in this recipe, but won’t cook up nearly as tender as Atlantic salmon. Sockeye salmon is quite lean, with a meatier consistency and a stronger fish flavor. Though feel free to use your favorite type of salmon in this dish!

Sun Dried Tomato Oil – Sun dried tomato oil is simply the oil found in a jar of sun dried tomatoes. Some sun dried tomatoes are sold dry and in bags, but for this recipe, you’ll want to get the jarred kind! That luscious oil the tomatoes are packed in is loaded with incredible flavor. However, if you can’t find sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, you can simply replace the sun dried tomato oil with a more mild olive or avocado oil.

White Wine – Any dry white wine will work in this salmon recipe! I used an extra dry Pinot Grigio and had perfect results. Though any white wine with either “dry” and/or “crisp” in the description will taste great. My favorite part of cooking with wine, is getting to pair a glass of it with my finished dish – yum!

Unsweetened Creamer – I used my dairy-free coffee creamer to make the sauce extra thick and velvety smooth. Though any cream/creamer will work here, just as long as it’s unflavored and unsweetened. If you’re not dairy-free, feel free to use heavy cream or whole milk instead.

Top Tips

  • Serve up this simple one-pan salmon recipe any way you’d like! I enjoyed mine over some brown rice and OMG it was delicious. I even used the ready-to-eat microwaveable brown rice to make this easy dinner recipe even easier to make!
  • If you have a cast-iron skillet, use it! Cast-iron does an incredible job at circulating heat and will create an irresistible golden crust on your salmon fillets. Though if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, my recommendations are (in order) a stainless steel, ceramic, or non-stick skillet instead.
  • Love the idea of a creamy sun dried tomato sauce, but don’t love salmon? Simply turn this salmon recipe into a one-pan chicken recipe! To do this, replace the salmon fillets with four thinly sliced chicken breasts. Cook them just as you would the salmon, only increasing the cook time to ensure the chicken is completely cooked through.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy Free – Either use my dairy-free coffee creamer like I did, or 1/2 a cup of full-fat coconut milk in place of the creamer!

Make it Non-Alcoholic – For a wine-free version, simply sub the white wine for 1/2 cup of chicken or vegetable broth, plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. The broth will add flavor, while the lemon juice brightens things up!

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Skillet Salmon Recipe
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Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Skillet Salmon Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Intermediate
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

Perfectly seared salmon in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce, ready in under 30 minutes! This simple weeknight meal requires just one skillet and comes together in a flash. The perfect recipe when you’re craving seared salmon, with lots of delicious flavor!

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets, about 8 ounces each

  • salt and pepper, to taste

  • 2 tablespoons sun dried tomato oil, see Notes

  • 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced

  • 1 shallot, chopped

  • 6 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/2 cup dry white wine

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened creamer I used my homemade non-dairy coffee creamer

  • 2 cups baby spinach

  • fresh parsley or basil, for serving

Directions

  • Pat salmon fillets dry with a paper towel then evenly season with salt and pepper.
    • sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe step 1
  • Heat sun dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, place salmon fillets in skillet with the skin-side facing up. Cook salmon for about 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Remove salmon from skillet and set aside.
    • sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe step 2
  • Reduce heat to medium and add shallots, cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add in sun dried tomatoes and garlic, cook for another 2-3 minutes.
    • sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe step 3
  • Pour in white wine and simmer for 3 minutes or until the liquid has slightly reduce. Pour in creamer and baby spinach, cook until spinach has wilted.
    • sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe step 4
  • Nestle salmon fillets back into skillet, spoon sauce over each fillet and simmer until warm – about 2 minutes.
    • sun dried tomato skillet salmon recipe step 5

Notes

  • Sun Dried Tomato Oil: Sun dried tomato oil is simply the oil from a jar of sun dried tomatoes. If your sun dried tomatoes didn’t come packed in oil, use olive oil or avocado oil instead.

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30 Minutes or Less

Blackened Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

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overhead image of blackened chicken on a plate with spices around the plate

This blackened chicken is incredibly tender and juicy! With a handful of delicious spices, and just one pan, you’ll have an intensely flavorful protein. Enjoy this blackened chicken over a salad, with your favorite veggies, or whatever your heart desires for a quick and healthy meal!

blackened chicken on a plate with lemon wedges on the side and blackened seasoning on the side

What You Need To Make Blackened Chicken

Smoked Paprika – The main spice in our blackened seasoning is the incredible smoked paprika! Unlike regular paprika, smoked paprika has this irresistible smoky flavor that simply can’t be beat. If you don’t already have this delicious spice in your spice cabinet, then I highly recommend you buy some.

Cayenne Pepper – The amount of cayenne pepper you use in this blackened chicken recipe is entirely up to you and your spice preferences. I personally love a bit of spice, so I use almost 1/4 teaspoon in my seasoning. However, if you’re averse to spice, you can simply leave the cayenne pepper out altogether.

Chicken Breasts – Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are the way to go! Without the skin, the spices can better penetrate into the meat. This makes your chicken that much more delicious. And as far as boneless goes, it’s easier to eat – a no brainer if you ask me!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Make it Less Spicy: If you don’t like spice, simply omit the cayenne pepper in this blackened chicken recipe.
  • Make it Vegan: Turn this into a blackened tofu recipe by taking a block of tofu, pressing as much water out of it as possible, then slicing it down the center to create two tofu “steaks.” Then, season the tofu exactly how you would the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes per side!

Tips For Making Blackened Chicken

  • Cook over medium-high heat, nothing lower! The key to blackened chicken is placing the seasoned breasts into a very hot pan. Then, do not touch the chicken until it’s ready to be flipped. This way, the crust will cook up super crispy and delicious!
  • Don’t forget to let your chicken rest after cooking. Once out of the pan, your chicken is holding on to a ton of its flavorful juices. Therefore, if you slice into it too soon, you risk having all that flavor pour out. So do yourself a favor and leave the chicken alone for at least 5 minutes!
  • Serve this chicken however you’d like! I enjoyed mine over a salad loaded with my favorite fresh vegetables. However, for a heartier meal, I recommend pairing this blackened chicken with a side of rice and/or roasted potatoes – yum!
Blackened Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
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Blackened Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

This blackened chicken is incredibly tender and juicy! With a handful of delicious spices, and just one skillet, you’ll have an intensely flavorful protein. Enjoy this blackened chicken over a salad, with your favorite veggies, or whatever your heart desires for a quick and healthy meal!

Ingredients

  • 3 teaspoons smoked paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

  • spray cooking oil

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

Directions

  • Mix together the smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
  • Coat both chicken breasts with either spray cooking oil or a drizzle of avocado oil, then sprinkle evenly with blackened seasoning.
  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then transfer chicken to skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove chicken from heat, transfer to a plate, and cover with foil then let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • This blackened chicken recipe can be easily doubles or even tripled! Making it the perfect and healthy meal to throw together for friends or family.

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30 Minutes or Less

One Pan Breakfast (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

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All ingredients for one pan breakfast arranged on a plate with a cup of coffee on the side.

This easy one pan breakfast recipe has everything you need to start your day off right! Savory bacon, crispy potatoes, and fluffy scrambled eggs are all cooked in the same pan. Whip this one pan breakfast up on mornings when you need something quick, yet satisfying and delicious!

All ingredients for one pan breakfast arranged on a plate with a cup of coffee on the side.

I’ve been making this exact breakfast for my boyfriend and I for a couple of months now. Well actually, I started with only cooking the eggs and bacon in the same pan while the potatoes baked in the oven. Then one day, I was short on time (and energy) so I decided to try cooking the potatoes in the same pan too. And voila! The world’s easiest/best one pan breakfast was born.

I actually have no good reason as to why I haven’t shared this breakfast hack earlier. It just became such a common part of my cooking routine that I failed to realize it was worth sharing. Which is crazy because it is by far one of the smartest, if not THE smartest recipe I’ve ever created. The entire breakfast-making process could literally not get any more efficient than this. I promise this one pan breakfast will change your breakfast game forever! Just like it changed mine.

What You Need To Make This One Pan Breakfast

Bacon – Ahhh beautiful, beautiful bacon – I just love you. No breakfast is complete without bacon or sausage. In my opinion, bacon reigns supreme, though sausage is OK too. Though the main reason I’d recommend you stick to bacon in this recipe, is because the fat rendered from the bacon will become the “cooking oil” we use for the rest of the recipe. If you find that your bacon renders too much fat, simply remove some from the pan before cooking the rest of your one pan breakfast.

Baby Potatoes – Any kind of white potato will work here. My recommendation is baby potatoes for their creamy, almost buttery interior. When pan-fried in this recipe, the outside gets deliciously crispy while the inside stays pleasantly soft. If you opt for using a different kind of white potato in this recipe, just make sure that it is chopped into similarly sized pieces.

Eggs – Another breakfast staple, eggs are the last item cooked for this one pan breakfast. I scrambled my eggs in this recipe, though you can cook your eggs however you’d like. I can image that fried eggs would also taste and work great here! However, if you do choose to scramble your eggs, do not forget to lower the heat of your pan, as scrambled eggs require a much lower temperature to cook.

Delicious Additions

Below are a few ideas of what you can serve with this one pan breakfast…

  • Avocado
  • Gluten-Free Toast
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Arugula/Lettuce
  • Fresh Tomatoes
  • Crunchy Carrots
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Fresh Herbs
  • Dairy-Free (or regular) Cheese
  • & Coffee (DUH!)

Tips and Tricks for This One Pan Breakfast

  • Choose a pan large enough to fit all potatoes in a single layer. If you overcrowd the potatoes in the pan, they’ll have less contact with the pan resulting in less crispy potatoes!
  • If you find that your bacon rendered a little too much fat, feel free to remove some bacon fat from the pan before cooking the potatoes! And if cooking this one pan breakfast in bacon fat isn’t your thing, simply remove all of the fat and use avocado oil instead.
  • Add as much salt, pepper, or any other spices you’d like! A dash of garlic powder and/or smoked paprika over the crispy potatoes is delicious.
One Pan Breakfast
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One Pan Breakfast

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

This easy one pan breakfast recipe has everything you need to start your day off right! Savory bacon, crispy potatoes, and fluffy scrambled eggs are all cooked in the same pan. Whip this one pan breakfast up on mornings when you need something quick, yet satisfying and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 4 bacon slices

  • 1/2 pound baby potatoes, quartered

  • 6 eggs, whisked

  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  • Cook bacon in a large pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side, then set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Increase the heat to medium-high and add in the potatoes in a single layer, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover with a lid and cook undisturbed for 5-8 minutes.
  • Flip potatoes, cover again and cook undisturbed for 10 minutes, or until crispy. Remove potatoes from the pan, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
  • Pour in the whisked eggs, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes sturring frequently. Serve eggs with bacon, potatoes, and whatever else you’d like!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you’re concerned about the bacon and potatoes getting cold while the eggs cook, I’d recommend leaving them in the oven on warm. Though I found that the eggs cook so quickly, the bacon and potatoes are still at an ideal temperate when served.

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