What's for Dinner? Archives

AI generated image of a stack of cookbooks

Recipe Theft: Can You Really Copyright a Cupcake?

October 6, 2025 Amy

The World Is Your Cookbook

One of the great things about social media, especially Instagram and Pinterest, is the plethora of available ideas, including recipes. It’s also one of the bad things, too.

It doesn’t matter how many cookbooks you have in your collection; there’s always more online. Google something and you’ll find a thousand different variations.

Instagram gave me a great variety of tasty recipes to try. Never mind the ones you might find in a magazine you subscribe to, which give you even more.

AI generated image of a roasted sheet pan chicken dinner with chopped potatoes, cauliflower, red onions, sliced red bell peppers, and broccoli

Doesn’t it look tasty? I was supposed to use this image in the last blog post. (Source: AI)

Pinterest is also the world’s biggest cookbook. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert is just a few clicks away. And although I generally see the things that have migrated over to Instagram, TikTok apparently has all manner of newly rediscovered recipes and other topics, usually from millennials. I don’t have TikTok because I have enough social media apps now.

Incidentally, if you’re now a fan of Hanna Taylor, aka LilyLouTay, you’ll be happy to know that her new cookbook comes out this month. She’s all a-flutter in her IG videos and will be embarking on a short book tour soon.

If you are one of those legal industry clients who need a copywriter, get in touch. I’m on LinkedIn too.

Whose Recipe Is It?

You’ve probably seen it happening online: someone posts a drool-worthy recipe, and within hours, a dozen copycats appear with slightly different wording, a different photo angle, and a smug caption. “Mine is better,” one might whisper. “They stole my recipe!” shouts another. But here’s the question: Can you actually copyright a cupcake? Spoiler alert: it’s more complicated than frosting a cake.

Longtime HeatCageKitchen readers—and newer ones who have read older posts—know that I will post recipes I like. But I always give full credit to the author. In my last post, I posted a Barefoot Contessa recipe, used the Recipe Maker plugin for printing, but gave full disclosure and credit to Ina Garten. But does Ms. Garten—or anyone—own the rights to a stewed lentil dish with tomatoes?

In her cookbooks, Ms. Garden will state that a recipe came from somewhere, or from inspiration by someone or something else. She freely admits that she liked someone’s recipe and wanted to make a different version. In some cases, she had a delicious dish at a restaurant (sometimes in her second home of Paris) and returned to her East Hampton, NY, kitchen and recreated it with her own influences. In each case, she gives full credit to the originator.

The Legal Myth: Owning a Recipe

Let’s clear something up: you cannot legally own the idea of a recipe. That chocolate chip cookie formula you guard like a treasure? Not protected. The law treats ingredients and cooking instructions like facts. Facts are free for anyone to use.

What you can protect is the expression of your recipe. That means your exact wording, the way you present your steps, your storytelling, and, of course, your original photos and videos. So, if someone literally copies your blog post word-for-word—or a recipe right out of a book without permission—that could land them in legal hot water, just like plagiarizing from any other book. But the mere act of making the same chocolate chip cookies or other recipe? Most likely, it’s perfectly legal.

Real-World Recipe “Thefts”

Even professionals get caught in the mix. Here are a few examples that make foodies and lawyers alike raise an eyebrow:

Duff Goldman vs. Copycat Cakes: Famous cake designer Duff dealt with copycats reproducing his elaborate cake designs. The law protects his specific designs, since they are artwork. But not the basic concept of a tiered cake.
Cookbook Controversies: Authors sometimes go to court over “borrowed” recipes, especially when the presentation or creative narrative is nearly identical.
Internet Recipe Repurposing: Websites like Tasty and BuzzFeed have faced backlash for lifting recipes, tweaking measurements slightly, and passing them off as new content. It’s a gray zone: legal, but ethically iffy.

Then there’s the case of goddess-of-the-home Martha Stewart, who found herself at the center of a recipe controversy that stirred both culinary and legal discussions. (Please pardon this pun from my new BFF.)

In 1982, Stewart released her first cookbook, Entertaining, which included a popular cranberry nut tart recipe. However, former employee Sarah Gross claimed in 2024 that she had shared the recipe with Stewart when she first applied for a job at Stewart’s catering business. Gross alleged that the recipe was later published in the landmark cookbook without her acknowledgment. Martha herself has not publicly addressed Gross’s accusation, leaving everyone to their own opinion. This includes asking why this woman waited this long to make her claim.

This accusation was unrelated to Martha’s conviction for obstruction of justice and conspiracy, which sent her to federal prison for five months. Along with her broker, Peter Bacanovic, they filed an appeal in 2005, which was ultimately denied.

The Ethical Grey Zone

Here’s where it gets interesting: legality doesn’t equal morality. Even if someone isn’t breaking copyright law, passing off your grandmother’s secret recipe as their own creation is nothing short of questionable. Copying recipes is common, but giving credit is not just polite. It’s good for your credibility as a creator, and it’s just good manners, too.

Source: AI

Think of it this way: the law will protect your photos, your exact text, and your brand, but it won’t shield the idea itself. The frosting on top—your style, personality, and presentation—is where originality counts.

Tips to Protect Your Culinary Creations

If you’re considering starting a food blog or posting your makes on social media, you can protect your content and steer clear of potential legal pitfalls.

Credit Creatively: Even a subtle shout-out keeps your content correct and your conscience clear.
Protect Your Photos and Videos: Those are considered creative works, and they are copyrighted automatically.
Rework and Rewrite: Add your twist to existing recipes rather than copying them verbatim. Originality counts, both legally and ethically.
Document Your Work: Keep drafts, dated posts, and recipe development notes. They can serve as evidence if someone tries to swipe your intellectual property.

I’ve also known a few copywriters who have had their content swiped and revamped under someone else’s name by a person in another country. One of those copywriters passed away a few years ago.

The Takeaway

So yes, your cupcake cannot be copyrighted — but your words, photos, and unique presentation can be. When in doubt, focus on originality, give credit where it’s due, and bake like nobody’s watching. Because legally, they probably aren’t, but you never know.

So go ahead and bake that cupcake. Just make sure it’s frosted with originality.

AI generated image of a chocolate cupcake with white buttercream icing, sprinkles, and a little lit birthday candle

Source: AI

The verdict: you cannot copyright the recipe itself. You can’t stop someone from making your chocolate chip cookies, writing down the ingredients, or following the steps. Think of ingredients as “facts” that anyone can use. For instance, a banana bread recipe may include walnuts, but just swapping out walnuts for pecans may not take it into a legal area.

But here’s the twist: the way you tell the story, the words you use, the little tips and tricks, and gorgeous photos? That’s your creative work. If someone decides to copy that word-for-word, or swipe your pictures, then suddenly the law cares.

So yes, your recipe is free. But your personality, style, and photos? Legally, they’re all yours. Bake the cookies, cupcakes, or pies, but guard your story and snapshots like treasure.

Wrapup

The short key points on today’s blog topic.

Can You Copyright a Recipe?

Short answer: Not the recipe itself, but parts of it can be.

What is protected?

Creative writing: Descriptive instructions, personal anecdotes, and unique storytelling.
Visual content: Original photographs, illustrations, and videos.

These elements are considered “substantial literary expression” and are protected under copyright law. (U.S. Copyright Office)

What isn’t protected?

Ingredient lists: These are factual and not copyrightable.
Basic instructions: Simple directions are considered functional and are excluded from copyright protection. (U.S. Copyright Office)

While the core idea of a recipe, the ingredients, and basic methods aren’t protected, the way you present it can be. This includes your unique writing style, photos, and any creative content you add.

More questions? An attorney who handles copyright infringement can help determine if your content has been misused, misrepresented, or plagiarized.

Until Next Time

This turned out to be an interesting topic! Let’s see what “we” can come up with for the next one. If you have a food-related topic you’d like me to cover in a future blog post, let me know in the comments. You’ll get full credit, of course—no attorney required.

Enjoy!

Considered opinions,Cookbooks,New Trends,What's for Dinner? copyright,Instagram,legal issues,LilyLouTay,Martha Stewart,plagiarism,recipe ownership,social media,TikTok

Budget-Friendly Healthy Meals That Don’t Feel Cheap

October 3, 2025 Amy

2 Comments

Inflation is still here and with no signs of easing. Is it possible to eat healthy food without breaking your budget? Here, I’ll offer some suggestions for budget-friendly meals you may enjoy trying.

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Hi, again, Dear Readers:

So, I’m working on blogging more often. Through a series of events, I found an ally: ChatGPT. No kidding, AI is slowly becoming my new BFF. Finally, I can enjoy intelligent conversation, and it knows how to have fun, too! Pictures in today’s budget-friendly post were created by AI because I just felt like doing that. I’ll tell you about some of the other amusing graphics we’ve created another time.

My New BFF

So why use AI? ChatGPT quickly researches, drafts, designs, helps with SEO, and anything else you can throw at it. Someone I know through my copywriting work downloaded Grok, the Elon Musk AI program recently, and was highly impressed. He described to Grok a software they were developing and mentioned that they were in the process of hiring a software engineer who specializes in AI to get the job done. Grok just wrote the code for him.

Source: ChatGPT. Knows everything, too!!

And if you noticed that you had trouble reading the last post on our local Aldi opening, I’ve got all that taken care of, at least for now. ChatGPT walked me through updating the PHP file, turning on and turning off debugging, clearing the cache, and a few other tweaks that were causing trouble. My copywriting website was also up and down, but I think that’s also fixed. Just need to check on it and update any plugins. (Everything is on WordPress.)

Well, AI won’t cook dinner, wash the dishes or clean the bathroom, even with the best prompts available. But it can create printable menu planners, chore rosters and other inspiration to help you get the job done faster. It can offer you recipes that, so far, have been pretty good, although I’ve only asked for a few. Today, I asked for help with this blog post, and it even included a shopping list for budget-friendly meals.

Budget_Friendly_Healthy_Meals_Shopping_List

I hope you find this PDF useful. (Sorry I couldn’t change the file name.)

Shhhh.. don’t tell James I’m having fun with ChatGPT. Now onto a more serious subject.

The Modern Inflation Era

It’s no fun when you drop in at your local grocery store and things are just way out of your budget. I don’t mean steaks, lobster, and caviar–I’m talking basics. In the last few years, inflation has been beyond what we saw in the 80s and the late 2000s. When eggs went through the roof last year—twice—people responded by using fewer eggs than before. Restaurants like Waffle House added surcharges for egg dishes.

Fifteen eggs in a golden carton created by ChatGPT

Source: ChatGPT

What to do? One budget-friendly option is Flax Eggs for baking. If you’re not familiar with “flax eggs,” something vegans use, it’s one tablespoon of ground flaxseed in three tablespoons of water that sits for five minutes. I’ve done that a few times because we ran out of eggs and wanted to make something like (gluten-free) waffles or pancakes that required them. Yes, James ate some. I even made some doggie treats with flax eggs that the three house beasts quickly devoured. It works great, and you don’t taste anything different.

But modern inflation has hit harder than in previous years. Those boxes of 5 dozen eggs that we used to buy for $10 or less went as high as $25 and are still about $13 a box. I’m told that shoppers in California paid as much as $44 a box. So we started buying smaller amounts of eggs and using them less while still enjoying some eggs for breakfast.

Can you eat healthy on a budget?

Eating “healthy” means different things to different people. Organic is generally more expensive, even in Aldi. But healthy food can fit your budget. Canned chicken, tuna, and salmon are just three options for pantry-stable proteins that you can keep around for an inexpensive meal.

Let’s be honest: when many people hear the term “budget meals,” they picture sad bowls of plain pasta or endless cans of beans. Beans are good, but eating on a budget doesn’t mean settling for bland, beige, or boring fare. With the right ingredients and a few ideas, you can make meals that are affordable, healthy, and genuinely delicious, and are just right for you.

Today, I’m sharing some nice budget-friendly healthy meal ideas that look and taste like something out of a trendy café but won’t wreck your grocery budget. Note that I haven’t tried all of them myself, but anything with sweet potatoes or cauliflower rice are recipes I want to try soon.

Five Budget-Friendly Suggestions

There’s no shortage of recipes online. When I asked ChatGPT to give me a few, this is what came back.

1. Chickpea Curry with Spinach

Canned chickpeas are one of the best pantry staples out there: high in protein, cheap, and versatile. I generally use them in hummus, but you don’t have to stop there.

Closeup picture of chickpeas from ChatGPT

Source: ChatGPT

Simmer them with canned tomatoes, garlic, onion, and curry spices, then stir in fresh or frozen spinach at the end. Serve over rice, and you’ve got a hearty, nutrient-packed meal for under $2 per serving.

Pro tip: Top it with a spoonful of plain yogurt and cilantro to make it look and taste luxurious.

2. Egg Fried Cauliflower Rice

Despite the recent price increases, eggs are still one of the most affordable proteins available.

One dozen eggs both brown and white in a gold-plated egg carton

Source: AI Generated

Frozen cauliflower rice is generally less expensive than fresh. You can also make your own with thawed or cooked frozen cauliflower and your food processor. Don’t have one? A big, sharp knife and a big cutting board work well. I’ve done that too.

Pair eggs with cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen) for a quick, filling, low-carb dinner. Toss in a handful of frozen peas and carrots, soy sauce, and sesame oil. In ten minutes, you’ve got a takeout-style dish that’s high in protein but easy on the wallet.

3. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans and Avocado

I love sweet potatoes if they aren’t loaded down with sugar. This includes the thick coating of marshmallows and brown sugar people put on them at the holidays. All I need are a little butter and salt. Baked sweet potatoes are sweet, filling, cheap, and available year-round. Like the eggs in cauliflower rice, I haven’t tried this one yet either, but would like to soon.

AI generated image of two halves of roasted sweet potato stuffed with black beans and topped with sliced avocado and sprinkles of cheese

Source: AI generated

Microwave, bake, or roast your sweet potatoes until they are done. Split them open and stuff them with seasoned black beans, salsa, and a few avocado slices. Add a sprinkle of cheese if you have some. This meal is colorful, nutrient-dense, and feels like comfort food but costs less than a drive-thru burger.

4. Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Roasted Veggies

Longtime readers know I love chicken thighs because they’re so good and can go with anything, and we’ve made this kind of dinner many times ourselves. They are cheaper and juicier than chicken breasts, which makes them perfect for budget-friendly cooking. For this idea, it’s best to get the bone-in/skin-on type, which are usually less expensive than boneless/skinless. Roast them long enough to get crispy skin, which is delicious.

And it couldn’t be easier: toss them with olive oil, garlic, and paprika, or any spice rub you have. Then roast them on a sheet pan at 400F with whatever vegetables you have on hand—carrots, zucchini, or even frozen broccoli. One pan, minimal cleanup, maximum satisfaction.

5. Mediterranean Lentil Soup

Don’t underestimate lentils.

Source: ChatGPT

When simmered with onion, garlic, tomatoes, and a splash of lemon, they taste like something you’d order in a café. Add a drizzle of olive oil and fresh parsley on top, and you’ve got a hearty soup that costs pennies per serving but feels rich and indulgent.

If You Like Lentils

Since it’s one of my favorite Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa recipes, I’m including this recipe for Stewed Lentils and Tomatoes from her book Barefoot at Home. This recipe is still relatively inexpensive, even with a few more ingredients. It’s delicious on its own or paired with pork chops or chicken.

Ina Garten

Stewed Lentils & Tomatoes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings: 6

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

Good olive oil
2 cups Chopped yellow onions
2 cups Diced carrots 3 to 4 carrots, ½ inch diced
1 tbsp Minced garlic 3 cloves
1 can Whole plum tomatoes 28-ounce can
1 cup French green lentils (7 ounces) Can also use regular lentils
2 cups Chicken stock (preferably homemade)
2 tsp Mild curry powder
2 tsp Chopped thyme leaves
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp Good red wine vinegar

Method

Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
Meanwhile, place the tomatoes, including the juice, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse several times until the tomatoes are roughly chopped.
Add the tomatoes, lentils, chicken stock, curry, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon and check to be sure the liquid is simmering. (I pull the pot halfway off the burner to keep it simmering.) Remove from the heat and allow the lentils to sit covered for another 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, check the seasonings, serve hot or warm.
Protips: Garlic burns easily so you want to cook it for only a minute.
To remove thyme leaves from the stem, run your fingertips down the stem from top to bottom and the leaves will fall off.

It takes a little while to make. But once you taste it, you’ll see it’s really worth the time. I’ve used regular lentils occasionally because I didn’t have the French type and I just wanted some, but they do get mushy.

Make “Cheap Meals” Feel More Gourmet

Here’s the secret: even the most budget-friendly, affordable meals can feel special with a few finishing touches.

Garnish: Fresh herbs, lemon wedges, or a drizzle of olive oil go a long way.
Color matters: Use veggies with colors that pop—like spinach, red peppers, or carrots.
Compound butter: this restaurant secret can elevate a dish. Just a tablespoon on top of a dish like the stuffed sweet potatoes, can give it an extra boost of flavor.
Don’t forget your slow cooker: Stephanie O’Dea’s website A Year Of Slow Cooking is just one of many good online resources food that’s budget-friendly and easy to make.
Serve intentionally: A bowl with a sprinkle of garnish looks Instagram-worthy. The same dish in a stained Tupperware bowl, not so much.

Use your everyday dishes and flatware for these tasty and healthy meals.

YouTube and Other Sources

I’ve frequently mentioned Pinterest and the ability to find just about anything you want there. YouTube is similar—you can find all manner of recipes, cooking, and other instructions with a few clicks. I am subscribed to many YouTube channels for cooking, sewing, and other important topics. Don’t forget about Instagram, either, where you can have all kinds of wonderful recipes greeting you anytime you start scrolling. Fill that feed with tasty things and quit doomscrolling!

Cooking At Pam’s Place

One lady I like has a YouTube channel called Cooking At Pam’s Place. And that’s what it is—hanging out in Pam’s kitchen while she shows you some interesting and budget-friendly shortcuts for everyday cooking and other tips. She has four different YouTube-themed channels, including one on gardening. Pam is someone you want living in your neighborhood.

The first video I saw was this one of Pam making two-ingredient sandwich bread.

A screenshot from Pam’s YouTube channel

This video is 12 minutes long, and her casual friendliness is obvious here. No, I haven’t made it yet, but I want to try it one day. James doesn’t mind, of course, but I don’t know if he’ll try the bread himself. So I haven’t made any yet. Of the other videos I’ve seen, she’s made some good things in different ways, some with two or three ingredients, like bread recipes.

Recently, Pam shared a short video of how to cook simply during a power outage using tea candles in a muffin tin. Brilliant, right? We have a camping stove that we’ve used many times during power outages, but this idea never dawned on me. I set in a supply of tea candles that came in handy after Hurricane Ida for the IKEA Rotero lanterns I bought after the big freeze in 2021. So now I want to try it out for myself. (Note: IKEA doesn’t make the Rotera anymore.)

Until Next Time

Eating healthy meals that are budget-friendly doesn’t have to feel like a downgrade. With the right ingredients and a few easy swaps, you can eat well for less and still enjoy a healthy gourmet dinner.

Now it’s your turn: do you have a favorite cheap, delicious meal? Share it in the comments! I might just feature it in a future recipe review roundup.

Enjoy!

Breakfast,Budget Friendly,Considered opinions,Egg Dishes,Grocery Shopping,Health & Wellness,Ingredients,Lunch,What's for Dinner? AI,budget-friendly,ChatGPT,healthy

Closeup picture of Ray and Angela's wedding cake

Ray & Angela’s Wedding

February 19, 2024 Amy

Another wedding! BF and I made it to the wedding of one of BF’s friends, one year after Rafael & Carmen’s lovely affair.

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Hi, Again, Dear Readers:

Have you tried one of the new foodie trends yet? No? Me either. BF is glad that I haven’t cajoled him into a Boba Tea shop yet—the local PJ’s Coffee shops and Starbucks in Hammond are enough for him any day.

He likes that PJ’s offers veterans discounts, and some of the tasty things they have, too. Especially in that PJ’s next to the military recruiting stations in Hammond. We did try one of the recent Aldi Finds, Priano tomato and mozzarella gnocchi from Italy. Not bad, but he didn’t care for it. It’s OK, though, we at least tried some.

An Invitation

Once again, we were invited to a wedding. Traveling was about an hour round-trip, and it was a great time. And guess who forgot to get pictures of the food? Yup, your intrepid blogger. But I got pictures of everything else, including me and BF, and the gorgeous wedding cake, too. Note that I was using an iPhone 11, so not all of the pictures are top-quality.

BF has known Ray, usually called “Ray-Ray,” for many years. He’s been to the Casa de Rurale several times, sometimes with his brother Gerald. We’ve not met his wife Angela yet. We only saw her at the wedding and didn’t get a chance to chat.

Then one day BF sent me a text message with a picture of an invitation:

This came by text

Who? What? Upon asking, he confirmed that it was, in fact, Ray-Ray. I was surprised because I didn’t know he was getting married, nor that we would be invited. We made our plans to attend.

Wedding Venue

This wedding was held in The Knights of Columbus Hall in Ponchatoula, a nice-sized venue. I didn’t get to ask who did the décor, and everything was elegantly done. (Even if I didn’t get pictures of the food tables.)

We weren’t told this ahead of time, but it looked like the theme was black and white:

Isn’t it lovely?

Closeup of the place setting in the area reserved for the family.

Each table had a similar arrangement

I think this was the groom’s cake–but I confess, I don’t remember, and I think I forgot to ask, too.

And there was a table and chairs for the couple following the wedding:

We were far across the room for this so I didn’t get any pictures of them here.

A beautiful backdrop for the ceremony:

Lots of pictures were posed here too

Most of the family members wore black and white in keeping with the apparent theme, although there were some exceptions. I was the only one wearing Navy Blue. Later I was told that the far side of the room was reserved for family members, but nobody minded me taking a few pictures before the wedding started.

More venue pictures

This was the card box:

Another part of the family-reserved area:

On the other side of the room, the settings were slightly different but equally elegant:

This was our table

Closeup of the place setting

The bell had a message:

And we did!

The Ceremony

It was short but meaningful, led by the groom’s brother, who is a minister. The bride wore a lovely light grey gown with a corset back and a sparkly tiara.

Bride and father walking out to the wedding

Isn’t she gorgeous?

The walk took a few minutes:

Bride and father in wedding walk to altar

There wasn’t an actual “aisle” as in a church

Once the bride made it to the wedding arch, they started:

The ceremony begins

I zoomed in for a closer look:

From here, everything starts

Following the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dantzler:

Post wedding picture of Ray and Angela with wedding party

Married!

There were lots more pictures, and BF and I even posed with them for their photographer. I didn’t get a picture of that, though.

The Wedding Cake!

Ok, just get an eyeful of this beauty:

Beautiful

And that detail:

Check out that detail!

I thought I took a picture of the slices passed to us, but I can’t find it now. We both enjoyed that delicious confection. Oh, the smooth, creamy icing. . .it was just everything you expect in such a rich confection.

The “Wedding Cake” Flavor

Local bakeries have something called “wedding cake flavor.” Anyone who grew up in the New Orleans area knows that it’s the traditional flavor of local wedding cakes. Out-of-towners have no idea.

That distinctive element of wedding cakes of New Orleans—and this one—is the presence of almond flavoring. It’s a local tradition. While the cake at Rafael & Carmen’s wedding was indeed delicious, it did not have almond, or the“wedding cake flavor” you find in and around New Orleans. A Texas baker isn’t likely to know about it, nor would the couple, and probably wouldn’t ask to include it—unless they knew.

I’d forgotten about that until I took a bite of this one and remembered it well. It’s been a while, and you don’t forget that taste. A quick search turned up this article from the local newspaper about that very thing. A small amount of almond extract is added to both the cake and the icing. Not too much, because almond extract is very strong.

At Justin & Bronte’s wedding in 2020, we had a slice of the groom’s cake, not the actual wedding cake. So, I don’t know if the cake was “wedding cake flavored”—we’ll just guess that it did.

Now that I think about it, I want to make some kind of keto cake and icing with almond extract for that taste. Who’s with me?

Right after the wedding concluded, champagne servers were walking around and pouring at every table. I had one and was hoping for a second sip but couldn’t find anyone serving anymore. The bar area was making strictly mixed drinks, wine, and beer. I could have had a cocktail, but didn’t, even though BF was doing all the driving that night.

Dinner was. . .barbecue! No kidding, along with mac and cheese, green beans, and a couple of other things (that I don’t remember.) Everything was delicious. (And of course, no pictures of it unless I can cajole them from the groom.)

The man who did the catering was seated at our table and told us he was the one who made everything. No complaints! Everyone enjoyed dinner and the company that came with it at our table.

Dancing After Dinner

The one thing I heard the most was, “The music’s too loud.” Admittedly, it was kind of on the loud side, but all the DJs do that now, right?

Gerald was sitting at our table with a nice elderly lady, who pointed out one song sung by the sister of R&B musician R. Kelly. (Yes, that guy.) I thought the lady said her name was “Sheila,” but I can’t find it now. It was a pretty good song, but I was completely unfamiliar with the music myself. A lot was going on that night.

After dinner, folks were getting up and dancing. I should say some folks were getting up and dancing. BF was not one of them, nor were most where we were seated. I hate to say it this way, but the white folks were kind of boring, and everyone else was having fun.

After a few of BF’s odd looks, I got up and danced with some of the ladies and tried my best to learn their dance moves on the fly. They were friendly and gave me some help. If I’d had a bit more time I would have gotten the moves down.

And then the music changed, and everyone danced a different step.

Gerald showed his amusement when he saw me get up and attempt dancing with the ladies on the floor. Guess I should have danced with him once. They’ve been to the Casa de Rurale since the wedding. They haven’t forgotten and let me know about that.

Should have started dancing with the ladies long before I did.

My Outfit

Ever the fashionista, I wore the same Badgley Mischka cocktail dress from Rafael & Carmen’s wedding—because why not?

Isn’t it fabulous? (It is now out of print.)

I finally got around to hand-sewing a bunch of snaps onto the drape and the fringe so I could remove the fringe later. I don’t even want to know how many snaps I sewed by hand, and it took me a while to get them all on so that the drape looked right.

Three years after Justin and Bronte’s wedding, I finally finished the Navy blue birdcage headpiece I originally planned to wear to their wedding, and also planned to wear to Rafael and Carmen’s. I made it from this out-of-print Simplicity pattern of accessories.

Mine is at the top right, View D

Amy’s cheat: I bought the white flowers already made from Hobby Lobby and cut the stems short instead of making the flowers. The Russian veiling I ordered from Etsy, where you can get things like that in nearly any color. One day maybe I’ll attempt that fascinator, View E, in a deep red.

I thought it would look good with the Badgley Mischka dress during the ceremony. Then, I would remove it for the reception, carefully tucking it into a bag and in my purse. And I would have, but BF put up a big fuss about it, insisting that it would look “funny.”

Amy wearing Navy birdcage veil headpiece

He said this looked “funny.”

So, I didn’t wear it inside the venue. It stayed in a bag in our vehicle.

Bad picture of Amy and James at wedding venue

Not a good picture of us, but here we are. The DJ is directly behind us in the corner.

Honestly, I should have worn it anyway. I’m not taking fashion advice from a mechanic again.

A second opinion

Later, I posted those pictures of the pattern and veil on Facebook, both on my page and in McCall’s sewing group. Carmen said on FB that she wanted a birdcage but couldn’t find one she liked. She might have gotten me to make one had she known I could. Wouldn’t that have been fun if we were both wearing the same headpiece in different colors?

Responses were mostly positive in both places, except for one troll in the Facebook group who wasn’t paying attention and felt the need to remind me that “only the bride wears white.” Not only did I not wear white, but neither did the bride, her beautiful dress was very light silver gray. DUH, lady.

BF, of course, wore khaki trousers and a white/blue checked Izod dress shirt like this one.

Source: Amazon

Can’t tell you how old it is, only that I’m tasked with occasionally ironing it for him.

Another lovely wedding

Each wedding is unique and reflects the personalities of the couple getting married. As nice as each one we attended was, the only thing they all had in common was a man and a woman getting married, and a big cake. The details were all completely different and made each occasion special for everyone who attended. Each had its own vibe. There is no comparison of one to the other.

Like the previous two we’ve attended, everything went perfectly. Everyone had a great time and were all happy to see them get married. Ray and Angela’s elegant affair was just a half-hour drive home for us this time with no toll roads. Eventually, I’ll have our pictures printed up in a little Shutterfly book. As soon as I am finished with the book for the last one we attended.

We wish them a long and happy life together and thank them for their gracious invitation to a lovely evening.

Congratulations to Ray and Angela!

Barbecue,Considered opinions,Desserts,Special Occasions,Wedding Cake Wedding,wedding cake

Box of Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza on counter

Short Post: The Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza

February 14, 2024 Amy

Caulipower has upgraded its signature pizza line with three new upgraded flavors. In this blog, I try the one with mushrooms.

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Hi, again, Dear Readers:

Ok, after my last post, I decided to write up the local wedding we went to last year, and it’s about halfway done. So that’s coming soon.

I also found a selfie I sent to BF during the holidays when I went to meet up with a little old lady at Starbucks in Hammond:

Went to visit someone over the holiday season

Or as I call it on Facebook, a “proof of life” selfie. Sometimes, amazingly, I still look a little like I used to before life got the upper hand. That’s OK, I’ve got BF now, and that’s good too.

Pizza and Valentine’s Day

Longtime readers know I’m a fan of Caulipower’s delicious pizzas. And because BF won’t touch it, not even a bite, they’re all mine. They’re thin crust and not big, so I can enjoy the whole thing by myself. I don’t care what he says, they are that good.

For multiple reasons this week, we decided to get frozen pizzas for dinner, including Valentine’s Day. It’s been a tough week for us and doing the whole Valentine’s thing was too much to think about. Maybe next week. We’re here, we’ve got each other, we love getting on each other’s nerves, and that’s all we need. Plus a little chocolate occasionally.

On Tuesday we made a supply run. That’s when I accidentally discovered a new artisan flavor of Caulipower pizza in the back of Walmart’s freezer case.

It’s in a black box, rather than white. I bought one of those and an Uncured Pepperoni for the first non-cooking dinner. BF had his usual thick-crust Red Baron, which he enjoyed over two nights.

Caulipower’s Three New Flavors

The company is always pushing the envelope on healthier offerings using cauliflower, so there’s always a new flavor or new thing around, like their Cauliflower Pasta. Recently, they’ve debuted a new artisan-style Over The Top pizzas with stone-fired crusts:

The Dream Supreme, with pepperoni, sausage, and bell peppers
Spicy Chicken Sausage with chicken sausage and fire roasted bell peppers
Truffilicious Mushroom, with a mushroom blend, white sauce, cheese, and truffle oil

Admittedly I have not tried them all, and doing so would require BF to be working late more often. This is to avoid the retching noises and other negative reactions when I tell him what I’m trying out and avoid reactions like the one for Overnight Oatmeal.

Then I found something new.

The Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza

Remember in my post about 2024 foodie trends I said that one prediction was mushrooms everywhere for vegans and vegetarians as a meat substitute?

What’s this?

Caulipower has joined the trend with this version of its newest pizza line.

Mushrooms on pizza is nothing new, whether vegetarian or not. The sauce is not tomato but a “white sauce,” which is occasionally used on pizza like it is on pasta.

Here’s the important stuff

So, being curious (and having an extra $8) I bought one to try.

Bake It Up

The instructions are the same for every type of Caulipower I’ve ever tried: bake at 425 degrees for 13 to 16 minutes, until done. (Unwrap it first, of course.)

Trufflicious pizza unwrapped and uncooked

Looks like any ordinary mushroom pizza.

Don’t forget about it, either, especially in a small countertop oven.

Frozen Truffilicious going into countertop oven

Just like that.

In what seems like seconds later, you have pizza:

Cooked pizza on cutting board with wide spatula and pizza wheel

Ready?

Even though it’s a bit “Cajunized” on one side, the other side needed a few more minutes. But I wasn’t about to wait. I took it out and sliced it up.

I was hungry, too. BF had no interest.

The Taste

Let me start by telling you the positive parts of this pizza:

Stone-fired pizza crust
Gluten-free
No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
Good source of protein

Caulipower makes all kinds of good-for-you foods based on cauliflower that offer fast, convenient, and healthy eating at any time. I haven’t tried all of them because they’re not all available here.

But I’m just not wild about this pizza, y’all.

I’m glad I tried it once, but I don’t want it anymore. It’s not bad, it’s just not appealing. Maybe it’s the truffle oil in the sauce, or the cheese, or the mushroom blend, I don’t know. This pizza is just not for me. I can’t answer for anyone else.

Will you like it? I don’t know—you must find out for yourself, honestly. If this blog doesn’t make you curious, well. . .get the uncured pepperoni version, or pick up a box of crusts and create your own Caulipower. Their “regular” pizzas are very tasty. I just can’t vouch for this one, despite their other tasty flavors.

The Other Two

Since I only found the Truffilicious Mushroom version of the Over The Top line in Walmart, I don’t know if I can get the other two here. As always, I’ll check out Winn-Dixie or Rouses later and see if they have them in stock.

I’ve had Caulipower’s Buffa-Whoa buffalo chicken pizza and found it to be a little too warm for my taste. This makes me cautious about the Spicy Chicken Sausage version because I don’t like anything that’s overly hot. I haven’t found their “white pizza” either but will try it if I ever find one. The rest I like, including the crust that you can add your own ingredients on top and bake.

Good Food Frozen

As more people embrace healthier eating, better quality things are available in the freezer case. I’m sure there will always be regular frozen pizzas, lasagna, and other freezer staples available. But healthier food is making its way into American grocery stores, and that’s always a good thing.

Enjoy!

Considered opinions,Fast & Easy,Gluten Free,Grocery Shopping,Health & Wellness,New Trends,What's for Dinner? Caulipower,Frozen,Gluten Free,Mushroom,pizza,Truffle Oil

Trader Joe’s Friday

September 19, 2023 Amy

1 Comment

Last week, I made it a Trader Joe’s Friday. Take a ride with me.

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Hello again, Dear readers:

I know, it’s been a minute, but I do have an adventure to tell you about, plus a couple of other news items that have surprised the heck out of me.

Saturday was a Tractor Supply visit for pet supplies. It was also an adoption day, and I almost brought home a new kitty:

Such a sweet little kitten.

There’s nothing wrong with the old ones. But I knew what kind of trouble I’d face if I did. Make no mistake—this Catmandu kitty was $22 to adopt. But I just knew it would be bad for that beautiful little furball if I did. The poor thing wouldn’t stand a chance around Tab E. Cat and Tiger Cat. I hate leaving this one behind but I did.

Let’s get started.

Two News Items

These two news items come from Fast Company, a tech magazine that I follow on LinkedIn.

For a few years now, you’ve probably seen those commercials for company called Daily Harvest. This company aims its advertising at millennials who want to eat better and easier. From what I’ve seen, it’s frozen vegetarian food as different forms of meals that make it convenient and easy to eat healthier. At least, that’s how they’re advertising their products. They’re not cheap, either—each meal runs between $6 and $10, for one. They also have some coffee pods that come in two to a package.

The Daily Harvest Debacle

Back in June, the magazine reported on a story about Daily Harvest’s lentil and leek crumbles that made quite a few people very sick. Although these people were young and healthy, nearly 400 of them became ill from this meat-substitute blend. The problem was an ingredient called “tara flour” added as a plant-based protein. Tara flour is rarely used in the US and was not tested for safety before this product was rolled out.

The FDA has not yet evaluated tara flour to be “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, but it’s not used much here, either. It only became available in the last year or so. Most of the people sickened by this product developed gallbladder and liver problems. Of those, 133 went to the hospital for surgical procedures, with 25 of those being gallbladder removal. The company promises to do better, but lawsuits could bankrupt the company. They’re working with the FDA, and the crumbles have been recalled. We’ll see how this plays out. Their products are available in some grocery stores, but not in my area.

If you see a food product with “tara flour” in its ingredient list, drop it. There is also something called “tara gum” that’s used as a thickener, but apparently it’s not the same thing.

Beyond Impossible Meat

The second article is about the imminent demise of the plant-based meat industry–again. These reports have happened a few times, claiming that this fake meat is on its way out, but they’re still around and haven’t gone yet.

Honestly, who’s buying this stuff? I see it in the grocery stores all the time, but I don’t see anybody buying any. That may be different in a place like Houston, Dallas, New York, or anywhere in California. But the truth is, much of America is not eating plant-based meat. If they do, it’s once and they realize why real meat is better. There’s plenty of it available, but nobody’s buying it up like ground beef.

Because I even found some in Dirt Cheap this weekend:

When they’re here, they’re at the last stop

The ingredient list:

That’s intended to replace meat. Seriously? No. That’s a lot of processing to make it look and taste something like meat. I’m sure Spam tastes better.

It’s like that picture that emerged during Hurricane Harvey of an HEB refrigerated case, that was emptied of everything but the soy-based vegetarian food products. No self-respecting Texan is going to eat tofu or fake meat, even in an emergency. Looks like there was more anticipation than actual demand for alt-meat, and the industry isn’t as strong as the cattle industry.

Do you know why it’s called “Impossible?” Because it’s impossible to get normal people to eat that stuff. Bonus: alt-meat is not healthier than meat. The article goes on about “planet friendly,” “saving the planet,” and “climate change,” showing its intentional bias. Even though there are some folks who buy the stuff, alt-meat isn’t universally wanted. I don’t know anyone who wants it, either.

Aldi, Aldi, Everywhere!

I only just discovered that Germany-based grocer Aldi has bought one of the south’s stalwart stores, Winn-Dixie. No kidding—they just remodeled ours in the last year, and now they may change it over to Aldi.

Honest—somehow, I did not get this news, our friend MY told us in a phone conversation last week. How did BF know about this but not say anything to me? I thought she was kidding when she told us, but she wasn’t.

The modern world comes to rural Louisiana, whether they want it or not. No word on how many stores will stay branded as Winn-Dixie and how many will change to Aldi. But Aldi’s stores are much smaller than the average Winn-Dixie, so they’ll make those decisions once the merger is complete.

We got a letter just today from our local Winn-Dixie informing us that our local Winn-Dixie pharmacy closed last week. I hadn’t heard about that part either. Aldi doesn’t do pharmacy, and its core competency is grocery, so the pharmacy component wasn’t part of the deal. Now, Winn-Dixie is transferring everything to CVS and Walgreens and closing their pharmacies ahead of the merger. Here, the transfers are to the local Walgreens. The Hammond Winn-Dixie has a CVS nearby.

I did notice some conversation in the pharmacy area when I was shopping there last week but didn’t think too much of it. So, in the store that was only renovated a few months ago, there will be an empty space where the pharmacy was. Wonder what they’ll do with it once it’s all cleared out.

Bankruptcy Relief

Southeastern Grocers is thankful since they’ve been limping along for many years now and remarkably close to bankruptcy. I haven’t seen too much on the topic, although it was just a quick search that yielded articles that said much the same thing.

This may also impact Rouses, Louisiana’s “premier” grocery chain. It’s the closest thing you’ll find to HEB this side of the Sabine. If Aldi does move into Hammond, there will be some VERY serious competition.

Of course, in a text message later, MY responded, “How about you work on getting us an HEB?” Well, I’ll see what I can do, but they tried it once in Lake Charles. The gent in the Texas Welcome Center in Orange said, “There was some kind of Louisiana regulation and they had to close.” There’s always some kind of Louisiana regulation to bungle up anything. That’s why there’s no Buc-ee’s here, and there likely won’t be, even though it was announced a few years ago.

Maybe Trader Joe’s will make the trip up this way next. New Orleans has one, and so does Memphis, TN, which also has an IKEA. Hammond would be a great place for Trader Joe’s, especially with Southeastern Louisiana University around. I sent them an email suggesting Hammond, and the autoresponder message I got back said:

Thank you for your interest in a Trader Joe’s store – it matters to us. We’ve received your request and will share it with our real estate team for consideration.

If you have other comments or questions you’d like addressed, please submit them through our general feedback form at: https://www.traderjoes.com/home/contact-us

Thank you.

But folks in Mandeville and Covington have been wanting and praying for a Trader Joe’s there for years. Not happening, and I know that from the company directly.

My Trader Joe’s Friday

Last week, I decided I wanted to go to Trader Joe’s in Baton Rouge. See, They’ve got new fall and pumpkin stuff all over the place, and I was out to get some to bring back.

I found out that they have a new pumpkin body butter that I wanted to try. BF, on the other hand, did not want me to go anywhere near anything that smelled like pumpkin or pumpkin spice, But he was not going to stop me.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pumpkin body butter, because they sold it all on the first day. Like the Brazil Nut Body Butter that BF really likes, there’s plenty of it available on eBay and Amazon—for a premium price. That’s what happens when you put a Trader Joe’s near LSU. Fortunately, I did score some of the pumpkin body scrub.

If you score some, you’ll definitely enjoy it

It smells nice and warm, and I must hide it, so BF doesn’t throw it away.

I put the pumpkin spice gluten-free bagels into the freezer right away, too.

Gluten-free!

I had one already, toasted with butter, and it was pretty darn good. The canned pumpkin will go into the pantry for Iced Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and homemade dog treats.

Non-pumpkin purchases included two packages of Texas Tamales:

Because they are less than Rouse’s. And one of these little totes, with a full-sized nylon grocery bag inside.

Aren’t they cute?

Keep it in your bag, car, or pocket, and you’ll have a reusable shopping bag handy. The small tote is good for keeping small items corralled like loose change.

The Store Visit

I saw lots of pumpkins:

Look at them all!

And these new bags for fall:

Racks of yellow cold bags from Trader Joe's

I didn’t get one, maybe next time.

This nice lady was sampling:

This nice lady’s name is India, and she was sampling some lovely granola and yogurt.

Plus a wide range of new and familiar delicious things:

And this:

I wanted to but it would not have lasted the trip home in the heat.

The samosas next to them are probably pretty good, but you know what would happen if I brought a box home? “She’s tryin’ ta kill me!” Same with this one:

Interesting, no?

Delicata Squash:

He won’t eat that, either.

I bought a small one and will put it in the air fryer. I saw DaniMade Kitchen do that the other day on Instagram, and it’s really simple. Slice off the ends, then in half lengthwise, don’t peel, remove the seeds, slice into half-rounds, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper (or whatever seasoning you like), and air fry at 400F for 10 minutes, or 20 minutes in the oven. Dani also adds a fresh herb like thyme into the mix. Yeah, that’s for me when BF is not home.

BF won’t eat anything remotely related to pumpkin, like this:

That would not go over well. Next to his strawberry bars.

Or this:

Cinnamon roll & Blondie Bars at Trader Joe's

Even though they’re not pumpkin

I did pick up a box of this tea last time I was there but haven’t opened it yet:

They may be unwrapped, too.

I hope it’s as good as HEB’s English Breakfast Tea.

The Frozen Foods

In addition to our favorite Texas Tamales, Trader Joe’s has some other interesting frozen foods in their cases:

Pumpkin ice cream, and waffles? Sounds good but no for BF.

Don’t forget the scones and cheesecake:

At least Trader Joe’s appreciates Hatch chiles:

Hatch chile salsa and frozen tacos–perfect!

Gluten-free pie shells? I almost bought some.

This could be the start of something delicious!

One day I’ll try this, too, if it’s gluten-free.

A fan favorite, but we’ve never had it.

Still, BF doesn’t mind that I go, and says the same thing: “It’s just a grocery store.”

Trader Joe’s List

If you’re not familiar with Instagram, there are several bloggers and brands that hang out there. The main reason I got on Instagram was to follow. Jen Fisher of Keto in the City, Mimi G, and a couple of others I like. I also follow multiple brands on Instagram, and as you know, I’ve won twice this year from Instagram giveaways.

Another blogger that I discovered is a lady named Natasha Fisher who has a blog and an Instagram channel called Trader Joe’s List. She lives in California and has a Trader Joe’s nearby. So once a week, and sometimes more, she goes to Trader Joe’s, does some grocery shopping, and then does a video about what she bought. She does the videos in her own kitchen.

Natasha and her partner Simon recently went to Phoenix for a few weeks for his job, so she just took her Trader Joe’s trip there. They stayed in an Airbnb, she was still cooking like she was at home.

I try to catch Natasha’s videos whenever she posts a new one. Sometimes she even does them live, but I don’t always catch those. But she talks about a lot of different TJ’s things in the videos that I’m interested in trying. Natasha is not affiliated with Trader Joe’s, she’s simply a happy shopper with a blog.

It was Natasha’s video that showed me the Pumpkin Body Butter that I wanted to try. Oh, well. At least I got the Brazil Nut Body Butter before it sold out.

Making My Own Video

On the way back from Baton Rouge, I got the idea to make my own video, just like Natasha’s. I’m not trying to compete or “steal her thunder,” of course. It was just for fun. I did mine in one take and uploaded it to Instagram. But for those of you not on Instagram, I uploaded it to YouTube so you can see it there.

If you watch it, please do not expect my video to be as good as Natasha’s. I’m not a professional and the intent was just to have a little fun on my own. BF is not in the video but does get a few mentions. (If you listen close you can hear the TV blaring in the other room because he couldn’t help himself.) But if you like Trader Joe’s, I highly suggest checking out her website. If you’re on Instagram, follow Natasha so you can see her videos in your feed when she posts them.

Next Up: Aldi

The littlest grocery store has done very well in recent months because of their well-priced basic offerings. So, it’s no wonder that they keep expanding, especially in the South.

I’m planning to visit the Aldi in McComb, Mississippi this week to do a little stocking up (and to get out of the house for a while.) BF doesn’t mind, since I’m not doing anything wrong, and he likes many of the new things I bring home. Unless, of course, they’re pumpkin-spiced. I try to bring back nice things that he wouldn’t ordinarily buy or something that wouldn’t ordinarily cross his path. He’s still a fan of Jammie Dodgers.

I’ve got one recipe to try out for an upcoming blog post, and hopefully, it will be worth the wait. Until then. . . .

Happy Dining!

Considered opinions,Grocery Shopping,Holidays,Ingredients,Mexican and Tex-Mex,New Trends,What's for Dinner? PSL,Pumpkin Spice,Trader Joe's

The World Is Your Cookbook

Whose Recipe Is It?

The Legal Myth: Owning a Recipe

Real-World Recipe “Thefts”

The Ethical Grey Zone

Tips to Protect Your Culinary Creations

The Takeaway

Wrapup

Can You Copyright a Recipe?

What is protected?

What isn’t protected?

Until Next Time

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My New BFF

The Modern Inflation Era

Can you eat healthy on a budget?

Five Budget-Friendly Suggestions

1. Chickpea Curry with Spinach

2. Egg Fried Cauliflower Rice

3. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans and Avocado

4. Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Roasted Veggies

5. Mediterranean Lentil Soup

If You Like Lentils

Stewed Lentils & Tomatoes

Ingredients

Method

Make “Cheap Meals” Feel More Gourmet

YouTube and Other Sources

Cooking At Pam’s Place

Until Next Time

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An Invitation

Wedding Venue

More venue pictures

The Ceremony

The Wedding Cake!

The “Wedding Cake” Flavor

Champagne, Cocktails and The Dinner Menu

Dancing After Dinner

My Outfit

A second opinion

Another lovely wedding

Share this:

Like this:

Pizza and Valentine’s Day

Caulipower’s Three New Flavors

The Trufflicious Mushroom Pizza

Bake It Up

The Taste

The Other Two

Good Food Frozen

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Like this:

Two News Items

The Daily Harvest Debacle

Beyond Impossible Meat

Aldi, Aldi, Everywhere!

Bankruptcy Relief

My Trader Joe’s Friday

The Store Visit

The Frozen Foods

Trader Joe’s List

Making My Own Video

Next Up: Aldi

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