I have this (completely self-created) superstition about bunny rabbits.  My theory is that bunnies are a good omen.  And guess what? I’ve seen SIX buns since we arrived in Scottsdale, including this little fellow. 

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Another good omen?

 

I successfully did 45 minutes of cardio without foot pain! :)  Maybe running is in my near future again?

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Actually, I was pretty proud of us for going to the gym.  Truthfully, it is hard for me to stay motivated on vacation when I can’t run outdoors.  But I banged out 15 minutes on the bike and 30 on the elliptical.  And it felt good!

 

Snacked on an apple:

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After a nap, the Husband and I debated going to the casino, but I think we’re going to save that for tomorrow after my big presentation. 

 

Instead, we opted for free wine from our hotel (yayy!) and fire pit sittin’.

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And then we wandered around Scottsdale until we found a restaurant that piqued our interest.  We settled on The Herb Box (slogan: “Not since college have people been so excited about herbs.”  I kid you not.).

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We started with the falafel appetizer, which was amazing.  A fun appetizer concept, too – little falafel balls on sticks!  This would be fun to create for a dinner party.

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For my entree, I ordered a big salad called The Happy Salad.  I was very happy with it.  🙂

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And the Husband gave me one of his Butternut Squash Enchiladas.  These were also amazing, and I plan to make these when we get home.  The corn tortillas were stuffed with butternut squash and corn and topped with yummy verde salsa.

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Do you often try to recreate restaurant dishes at home?  What’s the best meal you’ve recreated (feel free to link recipes!)?  I get some of my best ideas from eating out! 

{ 99 comments }

 

  • Hannah (Running In Freedom) January 17, 2011, 11:52 pm

    And bunnies are adorable!! Very good sign 🙂 Have a great rest of your vacation!

  • Sana January 17, 2011, 11:55 pm

    I woulddd love to have falafels on a stick! They would be a yum snack!

  • Molly January 17, 2011, 11:57 pm

    I love everything about scottsdale. If you have the chance to go to Four Peaks, do it! Ah so jealous of you right now!

  • Camille January 17, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Aww, the bunny is adorable!

  • Kiran January 18, 2011, 12:04 am

    Adorable bunny! I love the ambiance of The Herb Box and the foods looks delish.. I am yet to recreate a falafel, though the idea of a deep fryer scares me 🙂

    • laura January 18, 2011, 7:56 am

      you can bake falafel and it tastes just as good.

      • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:11 pm

        Yup, I’ve baked before and it’s good!

  • Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks January 18, 2011, 12:08 am

    That meal looks absolutely wonderful. I’ve made falafel at home before, but never as good as it was at Taim in Manhattan. I wish I could recreate that!

  • Sophia @ Raven Waves January 18, 2011, 12:08 am

    Great job on the workout!! That’s great that you’re not having anymore pain! 🙂 I feel the same way about bunnies! I have the funniest story. I used to feed a family of bunnies that used to come in front of my house and hang out there. When I would come home late at night, sometimes they would be waiting for me…I’m talking 2 am! CRAZY lol! They loved me! 🙂 Bunnies are the best!

    • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:13 pm

      dude that is awesome!!!

  • Bethany @ More Fruit Please January 18, 2011, 12:09 am

    I believe rabbits are good luck too – my dad taught me that it’s good luck to say “rabbit” in the morning on the first of every month. It’s a silly superstition that I still follow! I tried California Pizza Kitchen’s white corn guacamole last month that I’m dying to recreate at home.

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate January 18, 2011, 12:10 am

    The slogan is reason enough to check out the restaurant. Too funny. And the food looks incredible. I never would have though about butternut squash enchiladas but now that you mention it–it totally works. I might have to try my hand at recreating that dish as well.

  • Cathy January 18, 2011, 12:12 am

    the herb box is amazing, it started as a catering company and people loved the food so much they opened a tiny restaurant out of their catering location on shea, and then started opening more when it became popular. The tzatziki and the roasted potatoes are sooo good. ugh, i wanna go home and get some now….

  • Angie January 18, 2011, 12:16 am

    I think I found my twin, I love apples (hence the name of my blog) Red wine is my favorite thing to drink with dinner and I’ve recenty become obsessed with middle eastern food (falafel, babaganoush, hummus and pita are my weaknesses!)

    haha great post!

  • Amanda (Eating Up) January 18, 2011, 12:16 am

    I totally get inspiration from restaurants=and blogs too of course!

  • Jessica M January 18, 2011, 12:17 am

    MMMmm. Those enchiladas and the falafel sticks look yummy!!!

    I honestly don’t cook very many things, but this past Thanksgiving I went all out! I used some of Angela’s recipes that she has modified (www.ohsheglows.com): HP mashed potatoes, vegan gravy, and glazed walnut and veggie loaf. It was so delicious and the best home cooked meal I have ever made. : )

  • Meg January 18, 2011, 12:18 am

    I love recreating meals. My most recent favorite is eggplant parmesan.

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat) January 18, 2011, 12:19 am

    I love bunnies. I ALMOST convinced my mom to let me get 3 when I was little. She some how weaseled her way out of it though. Sad.

    Love your nail color!

  • maria @ Chasing the Now January 18, 2011, 12:20 am

    I’ve tried creating my own spins of restaurant dishes my husband and I like. Some have come out better than others. 😉

    Sending healing vibes your way for the foot!

  • Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf January 18, 2011, 12:20 am

    I’m still trying to recreate the black beans from Chili’s. Ugh.

    However, a local Mexican joint here serves this really cool torta. Beef fajita on french bread with guacamole, monterey jack, refried beans, and I think lettuce. I realized my favorite burger is modeled after that: bison burger with spinach, avocado, and pepperjack cheese.

  • Ella January 18, 2011, 12:21 am

    I’ve never tried to recreate a meal. I’m just figuring out this whole cooking thing (College student – this year is my first having a full kitchen, all prior cooking experiences were basically me reheating up the dominoes I ordered from the night before) but mmmmmm butternut squash I hope you can successfully recreate that.

  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete January 18, 2011, 12:27 am

    I had a basil blueberry martini that I plan on recreating very soon!!!

  • Mary January 18, 2011, 12:37 am

    If rabbits are good omens, I live with two of them! Any time I feel like I need a little extra luck, I rub their ears!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) January 18, 2011, 12:48 am

    I get inspiration from restaurants, but I’ve never tried to completely recreate a dish.

  • Lizz @ Leading the Good Life January 18, 2011, 12:52 am

    Those little falafel balls look great. You’re right about them being good for a party…stuff like that is so impressive and it just takes a few toothpicks!

  • Jess@atasteofconfidence January 18, 2011, 12:59 am

    I recreated a crepe recipe that I love!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales January 18, 2011, 1:00 am

    Okay so I feel like I’ve heard that bunnies are goodluck from somewhere, because I have always thought they were a good omen, too! Maybe it’s just coincidence? Anyway… I know in my hometown we’d always say spotting a white squirrel was goodluck. Have you heard of that one? It may just be because we had a family of white squirrels in my ‘hood. I think they were albino squirrels… didn’t have red eyes, though. So they weren’t too creepy

    • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:14 pm

      ive never seen a white squirrel before but once i saw a black one!

      • Leila @ spinach and skittles January 18, 2011, 1:42 pm

        During my freshman year of college I repeatedly saw a family of albino raccoons. They were pretty mean though, so no good luck there 😉

        • Allison @ Happy Tales January 18, 2011, 2:17 pm

          Oh that’s so sad! My college had squirrels that were so used to humans that they never ran away from you– even if you got 2 inches away from them. Very strange, if you ask me.

          What was even weirder though was my year abroad in Australia… they didn’t have ANY squirrels there!!! None! It was funny to come back to the States and be excited again to see squirrels. Oh, the little things…

  • Caroline January 18, 2011, 1:02 am

    I’ve recreated most of Moe’s Southwest Grill in the past few months. Although that hasn’t been too difficult; it’s the same components, different variations. Making avocado egg rolls has been on my to-do list after a visit to the Cheesecake Factory. I find myself trying to recreate any meal the BF likes when eating out. He can be a picky eater and is also wary of random and/or new recipes. If he likes something when eating out I take note and make it at home. It’s so weird (and slighty offensive, lol?) but he’ll try things in restaurants that he’d never try at home first.

  • Maryann January 18, 2011, 1:41 am

    Yay for no foot pain! Good luck on tomorrow’s presentation!

  • Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) January 18, 2011, 2:28 am

    Bunnies are so cute!! 🙂

    Well done for getting in a workout! I always find that hard too on vacation, and no foot pain too! 😀

    Good luck for tomorrow!

  • Gill (snaxandthecity) January 18, 2011, 6:02 am

    Those enchiladas made my mouth water! I often want to recreate meals, but never find the time. One I really want to re-create we had in Barcelona. It was a chicken breast stuffed with goats cheese, crushed nuts and herbs. It was covered in a red wine jus and was jsut about the best thing I’ve ever eaten!

  • VeggieGirl January 18, 2011, 6:26 am

    I love gaining inspiration in the kitchen from restaurant dishes!

  • Kara January 18, 2011, 6:28 am

    I’ve tried recreating restaurant dishes at home, but most of the time it’s some kind of ethnic dish and I’m pretty sure I’m missing some critical ingredient and it doesn’t taste the same.

    Have you seen any quail yet? I loved seeing them run in little lines when I was in AZ 🙂

    • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:16 pm

      no! i think i saw a road runner though.

  • Emma@cuddlenread.blogspot.com January 18, 2011, 6:30 am

    Random question… I’m looking for an all-natural deodorant that actually WORKS. I’ve tried Tom’s and Jason’s and I don’t like either. Any suggestions?

    • Sarah January 18, 2011, 6:56 am

      The store LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has an all natural deodorant. It won’t stop you from being sweaty if you are working out, but it does mask odor. I think the problem is that antiperspirant is decidedly unnatural, haha. Here are links to reviews of some of their deodorants. I tried the Teo (the Aromaco definitely makes you smell like a hippie, circa 1967.) http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/body/deodorants

      • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:16 pm

        Emma – I have no idea! I have tried Toms and it def doesn’t work.

  • Lauren January 18, 2011, 6:47 am

    Yay for no foot pain! Cross training is definitely a great way to heal that foot. 😉 Glad your enjoying this vacation!

  • MightyMite Runner January 18, 2011, 6:56 am

    Our “leaders” for GOTR Butte County are there with you in Scottsdale! Bunnies are definately a good omen AND great job on the cardio this morning despite your recovery and being on Vacation!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey January 18, 2011, 7:20 am

    I have never heard of bunnies being a good sign, but I’ll roll with it! 🙂

    That restaurant looks amazing!

  • megan @ blackberries for jam January 18, 2011, 7:35 am

    I’d love to sit by the fire pit with a glass of wine. What a great resort you’ve found!

    I hope your foot feels better soon! It must be hard to resist running outside in such beautiful weather!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) January 18, 2011, 7:36 am

    Great job doing the cardio! I don’t typically workout when I am on vacation because we are normally walking everywhere we go. Dinner looks delicious! I don’t really recreate restaurant foods, but I do get inspiration from them. The enchiladas sound so good! Have a great day today Caitlin!

  • Lee January 18, 2011, 7:37 am

    Haha, the restaurant motto is awesome!

  • Melissa January 18, 2011, 7:37 am

    I never have time to cook interesting meals like you, but both the butternut squash enchiladas and the falafel balls look good to me!

  • Faith @ lovelyascharged January 18, 2011, 7:42 am

    Mmmm, free wine…get it girl! Hehe. That squash enchilada sounds SO awesome! What else do you think was in it (spices, etc…?) I have a can of enchilada sauce and suddenly have an idea of what I want to do with it!

  • Kristina @ Life as Kristina January 18, 2011, 7:43 am

    Love that hotel-and falafel on a stick? Sign me up! I am always trying to recreate (never really turns out the same) I believe that anything made by someone else tastes better!

  • aubrey @ italktofood January 18, 2011, 7:48 am

    So happy you didnt have foot pain! I went to the gym yesteday and did the elliptical for 45 minutes without knee pain. Im hoping its a sign i will run again someday!

    That dinner looked so so so good.

    I fell in love with a moroccan salad from California Pizza Kitchen. It had beets, marcona almonds, butternut squash and othertoppings. I remade the salad, but I also took all of the ingredients and made it into a Butternut squash ristotto with all the moroccan spices and toppings. Mmmmm best one yet
    http://www.italktofood.com/2010/11/moroccan-inspired-turkey-with-butternut.html

  • Baking 'n' Books January 18, 2011, 8:01 am

    I’m having a love affair with Butternut Squash. I’m going to turn orange…

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine January 18, 2011, 8:11 am

    I once recreated Candle Cafe’s vegan taco salad. It was good, but not a patch on the original. I think that having someone else make something for you automatically makes it better!!

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) January 18, 2011, 8:15 am

    I love recreating recipes at home. Restaurants give me so much inspiration for fun, different dishes. Glad you dinner!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) January 18, 2011, 8:15 am

    Good for you for still working out on vacation! I have a hard time staying motivated as well, especially if I’m injured and can’t lace up my sneaks to explore the city on foot. You’re such an inspiration. 😀

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday January 18, 2011, 8:21 am

    LOL I love that slogan!

  • Julia @ Brides Up North January 18, 2011, 8:22 am

    Just reading back through your vacation posts – looks so fun – you and your hubs obviously get on so well x

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat January 18, 2011, 8:26 am

    This week I re-created 2 of my favourite restaurant meals and I’ll be posting them tomorrow!! They are absolutely delicious. Butternut squash enchiladas sound amazing, and that restaurant looks lovely. Glad you guys has a great meal!

  • Gracie January 18, 2011, 8:31 am

    Ahh, I love vacation posts 🙂 I want a falafel ball on a stick ASAP, haha.

    So glad that you were able to exercise without pain. Maybe your body was just trying to tell you to take a quick break from running?

  • Meesh January 18, 2011, 8:33 am

    Since becoming an avid blog reader (and blogger!) I think I would definitely try recreating dishes from restaurants! Not something I would have tried before for sure 🙂 That falafel idea is very cute!

  • Jenny January 18, 2011, 8:34 am

    Our yard/neighborhood is over run with bunnies. At any given time, we may have up to five in the yard. I like your theory of them being a good omen! Our life has been blessed, so it could be true.

    • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 12:17 pm

      I like this comment 😉

  • Orla January 18, 2011, 8:35 am

    This may be super basic but for years I could never get my guacamole to be nice. It is hard to get a decent mexican place here in Ireland. So I was in NYC a couple years back and ended up in a place that made guac at your table. I ordered about 3 pots of it so that I could figure out exactly what he put in it and how much. Now my guac is the best ever!

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing January 18, 2011, 8:41 am

    We made pizzas with this crust from Whole Foods the other night and they were better than most pizzas I’ve ever ordered out! Last night I made French Onion soup for the first time, and that was better than most restaurant styles too! I impress myself sometimes, which is good because other times I fail at making zucchini chips and cry about it haha.

  • M January 18, 2011, 8:42 am

    OMG. are bunnies always that big?? it looks like a small dog!

    food looks delish.

  • Kierstan @ Life {and running} in Iowa January 18, 2011, 8:44 am

    I studied in Greece for a month while in college and absolutely fell in love with a greasy gyro place. Right when I returned home (with a few spices from Greece in hand) I recreated the recipe – lightened up of course! It is now my family’s favorite and I have to cook it every time I go home. So goooood!

  • Virginia @ytotheummy January 18, 2011, 8:49 am

    I LOVE bunnies!

  • sarah k @ the pajama chef January 18, 2011, 8:50 am

    oh i totally recreate restaurant eats at home all the time. i really want to make lettuce wraps soon, like at pf changs and some local asian places.

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) January 18, 2011, 8:52 am

    Hahaha… I love that slogan! That is great!

  • Bess @ Bess Be Fit January 18, 2011, 8:54 am

    free wine? that’s amazing. And I also love bunny rabbits…they have been my favorite animal since I was little and would run around the backyard chasing them whenever I saw them because I wanted it as a pet. I eventually settled on a stuffed animal…much easier to take care of 🙂

  • Aundra | Fit for Life January 18, 2011, 8:57 am

    That’s a jack rabbit! A little different than a bunny rabbit, which I think means it’s twice the luck 😉

  • laura January 18, 2011, 9:12 am

    yes!! i love the bunny friend sentiment. we have them that live in our backyard. they are our outside pets. we even let them eat our green pepper plant just so they’d stick around. have safe travels!!

    p.s. i like the new picture.

  • Katherine: Unemployed January 18, 2011, 9:21 am

    2011 will be year of the rabit! as of chinease new year (Feb 1st? I don’t know the exact date)

  • Dani @ Body By Nature January 18, 2011, 9:22 am

    Aw that is the cutest bunny!

  • Carolyn @ EatWell. LiveWell. BeWell. January 18, 2011, 9:23 am

    I LOVE the slogan.

  • Caitlin January 18, 2011, 9:27 am

    This is so great- I have the same superstition about bunnies! Ever since college my roommates started this and I still believe it :)! To funny. I also heard that when you see a deer it means you are supposed to let go whatever is bothering you-weird? Maybe but I believe it :)!

  • April @ Crazy Fabulous Life January 18, 2011, 9:28 am

    Awwww, what a cute bunny! 🙂

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape January 18, 2011, 9:29 am

    That restaurant looks amazing!! And I don’t usually try to recreated restaurant dishes, mostly because I’m pretty sure mine would not live up to the original.

    And I definitely see rabbits as good luck over here. That means spring is on its way!!

  • Alison @ Around the VeggieTable January 18, 2011, 9:36 am

    I had an AMAZING dinner at a restaurant called Luke in New Orleans CBD. The restaurant is sort of new-German, so there was practically nothing vegetarian on the menu. I asked if the chef could make me something and he came back with spatzle and fresh sauteed veggies that was heavenly. I could NOT get that meal out of my head so I emailed him and asked if he could please send me the recipe. He did, and I recreated it almost perfectly at home. Love, love love.

  • Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans January 18, 2011, 9:42 am

    When I eat out I often go for something that I don’t/won’t make at home so I don’t often try to recreate dishes. I think as I get more creative in the kitchen I might but for now I leave it to the pros.

  • Stephanie January 18, 2011, 9:42 am

    GREAT slogan! Haha! Love the falafel on a stick. Neat idea!

  • Alex January 18, 2011, 9:43 am

    What a funny name for a restaurant! Great pictures though!

    I usually don’t try and recreate recipes from restaurants…but I do try and recreate spa treatments and homemade beauty products from spas I’ve been to!

  • Elizabeth@The Sweet Life January 18, 2011, 9:58 am

    I don’t think that’s a bunny rabbit–doesn’t it look too big to be one? Maybe a jack rabbit. Glad you’re having fun!

  • Amalfi Girl (EatRunHaveFun.blogspot) January 18, 2011, 10:03 am

    I LOVE recreating things that I enjoy at restaurants. It’s one of the reasons I love ordering “clean” foods at restaurants–it’s easier to identify what’s in there and guess how it is made! 🙂

  • Em January 18, 2011, 10:11 am

    Eating out at restaurants serves as my number one inspiration when making meals. The best thing I recreated was a brown rice crab/mushroom risotto! AMAZING.

    http://alifetobraggabout.blogspot.com/search/label/Brown%20Rice%20Crab%20Mushroom%20Risotto

  • Bethany January 18, 2011, 10:12 am

    We saw a lot of bunnies on our trip to Scottsdale too. And the one you took a picture of has exceedingly long legs, doesn’t it? 🙂

  • Kathie @ Frugal, Fit and Fabulous January 18, 2011, 10:18 am

    Aww, the bunny is adorable!

  • Lauren January 18, 2011, 10:26 am

    I tried making falafels when I was home (I baked them though) because I missed Thursday falalfel days at school. They came out alright, but not as good as the real thing!

  • Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good January 18, 2011, 10:29 am

    Oh, I will have to attempt butternut squash enchiladas! I haven’t had them, but I love butternut squash ravioli, butternut squash soup, can you see a trend here? 🙂

    I’ve recently tried making some restaurant dishes at home – Olive Garden minestrone, fish tacos and orange chicken. The minestrone was within my comfort zone, but the others were more of a stretch for me. I did write about making them at the following links:

    http://benotsimplygood.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/orange-chicken/

    http://benotsimplygood.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/a-day-well-spent/

    In both these cases, I found a recipe to work from. It would be a fun cooking challenge to completely wing it. I will have to try that sometime.

    P.S. If anyone has tips on making ravioli, I’m all ears! I haven’t been able to get it quite right. It’s edible and all, but just not quite right. The squash ravioli is something I’d love to be able to make well at home!! Thanks 🙂

  • Amber K January 18, 2011, 10:38 am

    I love seeing bunnies, they are so adorable! I am horrible at recreating things I have at restaurants. I have only done it once, but luckily it worked out. I made a bean bowl from the Laughing Planet Cafe :

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=3764232

  • Kelly January 18, 2011, 11:40 am

    Free wine?! Can’t beat that!

  • Beth @ DiningAndDishing January 18, 2011, 11:52 am

    My dad travels a lot with his job. He loves to cook so he always takes note of dishes he really loves overseas and tries to create them back home. He’s made some truly amazing meals!

  • Kacy January 18, 2011, 12:23 pm

    I have a bunny friend at my apartment complex, so I like your superstition 🙂

    I definitely use restaurants as inspiraton. Those falafel balls look awesome! I love that idea.

  • Haleigh January 18, 2011, 12:43 pm

    Butternut squash enchiladas sounds so creative and delicious! I find inspiration from restaurants too.

  • Ellen@FirednFabulous January 18, 2011, 12:49 pm

    Ohhh that hotel looks amazing and those falafel balls look even better, YUM! Props for hitting up the gym 🙂

  • mary (what's cookin' with mary) January 18, 2011, 2:02 pm

    My favorite re-creation was of El Pollo Loco’s Pollo Bowl.. and it was also my #1 most popular post ;D

    http://whatscookinwithmary.blogspot.com/2010/09/marys-el-pollo-bowl.html

  • Camels & Chocolate January 18, 2011, 2:21 pm

    Butternut squash enchiladas sound like the tastiest things ever! If there’s an item on the menu with butternut squash in it, you can be assured I usually order it =)

  • Haley January 18, 2011, 2:57 pm

    I LOVE remaking recipes from restaurants. Before you even asked that question I was thinking about re-making those falafel balls (wouldn’t it be cool to do a tray of balls and make all different types of sauces/hummuses to dip them in?), hehe.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin January 18, 2011, 3:55 pm

    Is it just me or does that bunny look like a hybrid bunny-cat?!

    I recreated some coconut basmati rice that I had at a restaurant once and LOVED. I didn’t get the flavours quite right, but I think I got pretty close! I posted it here: http://onehealthymunchkin.blogspot.com/2010/06/playing-catch-up.html

  • Autumn Tao January 18, 2011, 6:12 pm

    As a vegan, I enjoy seeing what your guy eats when you dine out together. Foodies can never get enough food talk! Keep sharin’ mama.

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