Christina's Cucina

An impassioned Italian Scot sharing how to cook authentically, and travel with enthusiasm.

One Year Later: My Miele Dishwasher Love Affair (Review) and A Recipe for Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells

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Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells recipe. And if you’re deciding which dishwasher to buy, read about my Miele dishwasher love affair (and my review).

Ricotta and Spinach stuffed pasta shells recipeIt’s truly hard to believe that I have been using my Miele Futura Diamond dishwasher for a year, as of today. (Scroll down for the recipe for Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells.)

UPDATE: over two years later and not one problem, ever! I’m still in love! (Sept. 3, 2016)

UPDATE: over three years later and no issues! Still in dishwasher heaven! (Aug 29, 2017)

UPDATE: another year, and still in love! (August 30, 2018)

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One year later with my Miele Futura Diamond dishwasher

I have used it almost every single day that I’ve been at home, and often times it has been run twice a day. As most of you know, I cook and bake more than most avid home cooks and bakers. My parents stay with me for about four months out of the year, so there are often five adults in my home.

Disclosure: Last year, Miele agreed to provide me with a dishwasher so that I could write about my experience and share with my readers. As always, my opinions are solely my own.*

So what has my experience been like this past year? I can honestly say, without any reservation, that I’m still on honeymoon with this amazing machine. I am in dishwasher heaven (I know all about dishwasher hell), and cannot tell you how much I appreciate having a reliable dishwasher that is still doing such a fabulous job, no matter what I put in it. One of my favorite things has been this third rack; I just love it! (8/29/17 still feel the same!)

Miele Top Third Rack

These are a few photos of what my previous dishwasher was doing to my dishes. I apologize for the really disgusting shots, but some of those dishwasher photos show what had built up within two days after I had cleaned them completely. See what I mean about dishwasher hell? (8/29/17 I have a bit of PTSD when I see these pics. My Bosch was a nightmare.)

dirty dishwasherYou can imagine why I was almost in tears after 11 years of dealing with a dysfunctional dishwasher, and this is what I was getting in the last year of its life. I cannot begin to tell you how upset I was, but to go from having such horrible results, to having these results (photos below)–well, you can just imagine my elation.

There is no way for me to prove to you that Miele’s dishwasher actually washed these without me pre-scrubbing or soaking, but it did.  I completely understand that these before and after shots just seem to good to be true, as I am still amazed to take dishes out of the dishwasher and see how sparkling clean they are! I do not take this machine for granted at all and am so happy every time that I use it.

Miele dirty and clean dishes amazing results
Rice pudding bowl and rib pan, before and after Miele’s magic (completely un-retouched)

Another major factor about having a Miele dishwasher, which has been an incredible bonus, is the water that we save. (Added July 8, 15: David Lebovitz shared this today.)

As you have probably heard, California is currently in the worst drought since records began being kept; we are on restrictions and our water rates have jumped. It’s truly a terrible situation. Just to show you how bad it is, this is a before and after shot of my lawn. Pretty sad, isn’t it? And the bottom photo is with our sprinklers still watering our “lawn”!

green and dead lawn

Anyone that needs a to buy a dishwasher and is affected by this horrific drought, or just wants to save money should really consider this brand. Miele eliminates the need to pre-rinse your dishes. This alone saves an estimated 3500 gallons of water a year! I cannot recommend it enough. Not to mention the fact that I’m always being asked if the dishwasher is running, because no one can hear it. It’s a good problem to have.

Miele has recently added new models, and they have so many to choose from, in fact, you can have a look. My dishwasher is a Futura Diamond, in case you want to know the model that I’m so in love with!

miele adWhat else have I discovered over this past year, besides the fact that this machine seems too good to be true? Honestly, there hasn’t been one problem. The only time I’ve pulled out a dish that wasn’t washed properly, has been because someone didn’t load the item correctly (human error)!

I have had the dishwasher beep at me during the beginning of the wash, and discovered that she’s telling me what the problem is! I wouldn’t know about a spray arm being blocked with my Bosch dishwasher until the cycle was complete and an entire rack of dishes would need to be re-washed.

Miele message

My Miele dishwasher also tells me whenever I need to add rinse aid. It’s like having a dish-washing assistant! My mother no longer complains about dirty dishes coming out of the dishwasher or that I should call the manufacturer to tell them about all the problems with my old machine, which is a huge relief.


 

Now I understand why Miele was willing to invest in giving me a dishwasher to review, because they stand behind their name of quality, (unlike what I’ve experienced with other companies). I think it speaks volumes that a company is willing to have their product undergo the microscope publicly, and without any form of insurance (i.e. requiring a positive review).

The stress of knowing I’d have to hand wash and re-wash loads of dishes (and wasting water) is now gone. I can basically make and bake whatever I want, like these Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce, stress-free.

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe
I love this basic vegetarian filling as it can be stuffed into cannelloni tubes or to fill ravioli, as well. Sometimes I add shredded mozzarella cheese to the filling, too.

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe
Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce

 

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells with Homemade Tomato Sauce

serves 6 to 8

Ingredients~

TOMATO SAUCE

  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (like De Cecco or Lucini)
  • 4 or 5 cloves fresh garlic (not in a jar, dried, powdered, or frozen) preferably grown in USA
  • small bunch of fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped (my family likes to use parsley in sugo)
  • 1 (28-32 oz) carton/jar of chopped tomatoes or puree (like Mutti or Bionaturae) ultimately, fresh Roma tomatoes are best if you have them
    about 1 1/2 level tsp Kosher salt
  • 3 or 4 large leaves of fresh basil

FILLING

  • 2 cups (16 oz) ricotta
  • 12 oz (3/4 bag) frozen chopped, organic spinach (or 2 bunches of fresh spinach, washed and chopped)
  • 1 egg
  • (optional: 1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese)
  • 1/2 tsp sea or Kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

PASTA

  • 12 oz box of jumbo pasta shells (or cannelloni tubes)
  • salt to cook the shells

BESCIAMELLA (WHITE) SAUCE

  • 1/2 oz (1/8 stick) butter
  • 1 oz (a little less than 1/4 cup) all purpose flour
  • 12 oz (1 1/2cups) milk, whole
  •  1/4 tsp sea or Kosher salt (to taste, at the end)
  • dash of nutmeg
  • dash of white pepper

Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan) or Pecorino Romano to sprinkle on shells

375°F (190°C)

Homemade tomato sauce

Make as this recipe, except use a deep pot and cook the tomatoes slower and simmer for about 45 minutes.

homemade tomato sauce for Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells recipe

Ricotta and spinach filling

Begin by steaming the spinach in a closed pot with a little water, for about 5 minutes. Drain and cool, then squeeze the remaining liquid from the spinach and place in a large bowl. Add the ricotta, egg, salt and pepper and mix well.

spinach ricotta and egg filling

Besciamella (white) sauce

Melt the butter in a medium sized pan over medium heat, then add the flour and stir well. Continue to cook while stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, but do not let it brown. (Cooking the flour well is important because the sauce will have a “raw-flour” taste if it isn’t cooked long enough.)

making white sauce

Have the milk close by in a jug that is easy to pour from, and add a little drop of milk. The milk should sizzle and steam immediately, if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little. Once the milk does sizzle, begin adding a little at a time, and stirring quickly to keep the sauce smooth.

The secret to not having lumps in white sauce is to gradually increase the amount of milk you add each time; if you add too much at once, especially early on, chances are you will end up with lumpy sauce (which is completely reparable with an immersion blender)!

Start with about 2 tablespoons of milk, then 2 more, then a little more each time. Once the sauce begins to form, you can add more milk each time. Just make sure all the milk has been absorbed after each addition, before adding more.

adding milk to white sauce

When the sauce is finished, add salt, nutmeg and white pepper to taste, and remove from heat and keep a lid on the pot.

Pasta

Cook the pasta shells partially; I undercook them so that if you bite into one it should be about half-way cooked. Reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water, then drain most of the remaining water and immediately add cold water to cover the shells. This is to stop them continuing to cook.

adding cold water to pasta shells

Assembly

Now you are ready to assemble the Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells. Put a little sauce in the bottom of a large, rectangular baking tray. Now you are ready to fill the shells. Using a spoon, hold a shell and fill it with some of the ricotta and spinach filling.

How to fill Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipePlace the shell in the tray and continue with the rest of the shells and filling until they are all used. You may need another smaller dish if they don’t all fit in the large tray.  At this point, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe in trayHeat the besciamella sauce, if it has become too stiff, then gradually pour over the tray(s) of stuffed shells. Don’t flood the tray with white sauce, you can see how much I poured over the shells in this photo.

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipeNow, pour the sauce over the Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed pasta shells, but again, don’t overload them.

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipeFinally, pour about a cup or so of the reserved pasta water in between the shells, so that they will continue to cook in the oven.

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe

Bake

Sprinkle with some freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, or Pecorino Romano cheese, then cover the tray with aluminum foil. Put into the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, then remove the foil and check to make sure that the shells aren’t too dry (add more pasta water if it looks this way).

Continue to bake for another 10 minutes or so, uncovered, then remove from the oven and replace the foil for about 10 minutes so that the shells absorb more of the liquid. This will also help them to hold together, when being cut.

Baked Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe

Serve

Serve the Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells while still hot.

Eating Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipe

I love being able to think more about what I’m cooking and baking, than cleaning up the mess of dishes, pots and pans afterwards. Thank you, Miele!

eating Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells with Homemade Pasta Sauce recipeDon’t forget that Miele dishwashers last about twice as long (about 20 years) as their competitors’. Please keep this in mind when you check prices and compare models. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments below, and you’ll also find my other posts about Miele below. You can also go directly to Miele USA.

Don’t miss another recipe or travel post, sign up for my free subscription below!
I promise not to share or sell your email address, ever.

 

Yield: 6 servings

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells

An authentic Italian recipe for stuffed shells.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

TOMATO SAUCE

  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (like De Cecco or Lucini)
  • 4 or 5 cloves fresh garlic (not in a jar, dried, powdered, or frozen) preferably grown in USA
  • small bunch of fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped (my family likes to use parsley in sugo)
  • 1 (28-32 oz) carton/jar of chopped tomatoes or puree (like Mutti or Bionaturae) ultimately, fresh Roma tomatoes are best if you have them
  • about 1 1/2 level tsp Kosher salt
  • 3 or 4 large leaves of fresh basil

FILLING

  • 2 cups (16 oz) ricotta (if you live in the LA area, I love Grande Ricotta)
  • 12 oz (3/4 bag) frozen chopped, organic spinach (or 2 bunches of fresh spinach, washed and chopped)
  • 1 egg
  • (optional: 1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese)
  • 1/2 tsp sea or Kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

PASTA

  • 12 oz box of jumbo pasta shells (or cannelloni tubes)
  • salt to cook the shells

BESCIAMELLA (WHITE) SAUCE

  • 1/2 oz (1/8 stick) butter
  • 1 oz (a little less than 1/4 cup) all purpose flour
  • 12 oz (1 1/2cups) milk, whole
  • 1/4 tsp sea or Kosher salt (to taste, at the end)
  • dash of nutmeg
  • dash of white pepper

Instructions

HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE

  1. Make as my quick pasta sauce (search recipe on my site), except use a deep pot and cook the tomatoes slower and simmer for about 45 minutes.

FILLING

  1. Begin by steaming the spinach in a closed pot with a little water, for about 5 minutes. Drain and cool, then squeeze the remaining liquid from the spinach and place in a large bowl. Add the ricotta, egg, salt and pepper and mix well.

BESCIAMELLA (WHITE) SAUCE

  1. Melt the butter in a medium sized pan over medium heat, then add the flour and stir well. Continue to cook while stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, but do not let it brown. (Cooking the flour well is important because the sauce will have a “raw-flour” taste if it isn’t cooked long enough.)
  2. Have the milk close by in a jug that is easy to pour from, and add a little drop of milk. The milk should sizzle and steam immediately, if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little. Once the milk does sizzle, begin adding a little at a time, and stirring quickly to keep the sauce smooth.
  3. The secret to not having lumps in white sauce is to gradually increase the amount of milk you add each time; if you add too much at once, especially early on, chances are you will end up with lumpy sauce (which is completely reparable with an immersion blender)!
  4. Start with about 2 tablespoons of milk, then 2 more, then a little more each time. Once the sauce begins to form, you can add more milk each time. Just make sure all the milk has been absorbed after each addition, before adding more.
  5. When the sauce is finished, add salt, nutmeg and white pepper to taste, and remove from heat and keep a lid on the pot.

PASTA

  1. Cook the pasta shells partially; I undercook them so that if you bite into one it should be about half-way cooked. Reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water, then drain most of the remaining water and immediately add cold water to cover the shells. This is to stop them continuing to cook.

ASSEMBLY

  1. Put a little sauce in the bottom of a large, rectangular baking tray. Now you are ready to fill the shells. Using a spoon, hold a shell and fill it with some of the ricotta and spinach filling.
  2. Place the shell in the tray and continue with the rest of the shells and filling until they are all used. You may need another smaller dish if they don't all fit in the large tray. At this point, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  3. Heat the besciamella sauce, if it has become too stiff, then gradually pour over the tray(s) of stuffed shells. Don't flood the tray with white sauce.
  4. Now, pour the sauce over the shells, but again, don't overload them.
  5. Finally, pour about a cup or so of the reserved pasta water in between the shells, so that they will continue to cook in the oven.
  6. Sprinkle with some freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, or Pecorino Romano cheese, then cover the tray with aluminum foil. Put into the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, then remove the foil and check to make sure that the shells aren't too dry (add more pasta water if it looks this way). Continue to bake for another 10 minutes or so, uncovered, then remove from the oven and replace the foil for about 10 minutes so that the shells absorb more of the liquid. This will also help them to hold together, when being cut.
  7. Serve the Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells while still hot.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

5 shells
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 551 Total Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 11g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 15g Cholesterol: 96mg Sodium: 1394mg Carbohydrates: 50g Fiber: 7g Sugar: 7g Protein: 29g
© Christina Conte
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Main Course

 

*Miele agreed to provide me with a dishwasher in exchange for my review and posts on my site. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone, and as always, I only recommend quality products and services that I truly believe in and would purchase and use myself. There have been no conditions stating that the reviews must be positive; I am disclosing this in compliance with the FTC’s regulations. 

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

 

Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells

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Reader Interactions

54 Responses

  3. Thanks for this. Our 15 year old Bosch died recently, and we are shopping for a replacement. Trying to decide between a Bosch and a Miele, so appreciate the time & effort that you’ve spent talking about this (thought I guess that’s part of getting a free dishwasher – lucky you!). My mother-in-law has a Miele and is pushing us that way, but she also hand washes her dishes sparking clean before putting them in the washer, so she isn’t really a good test of a machine!

    Regarding pre-washing and dishes not coming clean – I’ve recently read that detergents need some amount of stuff on the dishes to be effective – if you put in an almost clean plate, there just isn’t enough for the soap to adhere to to remove. Something like that.

    And now I’m hungry!

    Reply

    • Absolutely, Liz. If you rinse the dishes first, the machine won’t work as well, which is a good thing and I think that’s most new machines, not just Miele. I know I was given the Miele to review, but I honestly would have written about any problems I would have had, simply because I am not going to lie in a product review whether it’s for a product, appliance or hotel. That’s just me. I don’t blame you for wondering if the Miele is as good as I say, simply because I am still in awe and I’m seeing it with my own eyes. Anyway, good luck with your purchase; let me know what you end up buying. CC

      Reply

    • Yes, I wonder if people would put up with washing machines in which you’d have to prewash clothes and they’d still come out dirty. We seem to be much more permissive with our dishwashers for some reason.

      Reply

  13. the stuffed shells are look incredible. And the dishwasher – Oh, I’m so envious! Miele appliances are the best in design- form and function!

    Reply

  14. Okay first of all the drought situation is just horrible. So sorry, it must be tough to cope with.

    Secondly this dishwasher looks freaking amazing. I always hear how quiet they are. Mine is the opposite of quiet. I can’t imagine not being able to hear one whirring. Very cool to know what I hear about their product is true.

    And lastly this recipe is smashing. I love pasta, could eat it every day. Nothing better than stuffed shells, great photos.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Kim! It really is bad and it’s so frustrating to see so many people still wasting water! I too couldn’t imagine not hearing when my dishwasher was running, but it’s happened! I’m so happy! Thanks for the compliments on the pasta, you should try it, it’s even more delicious than it looks!

      Reply

  15. I have a very quiet d/w as well. Makes all the difference with all the entertaining we do. I’ve never heard of this brand … will check it out! The stuffed pasta recipe looks fantastic!

    Reply

  16. I’m in the market so will absolutely be checking out the Miele. and … who doesn’t like stuffed pasta shells. Looks great.

    Reply

  18. I love it that you are revisiting your dishwasher post. Your before and after dishwasher photos are making me jealous because we have to hand wash our dishes before they go in the dishwasher or they don’t come out clean. I now know that it doesn’t have to be that way after seeing your photos. I will put a Miele dishwasher on my wish list. And your pasta photos are looking very mouth-watering. Then I saw your recipe and that you put bechamel sauce on it– now I’m really going crazy imagining this dish. Yum!

    Reply

  19. Oh my goodness, there is seriously nothing I’d rather eat right now than THIS!! I want to chomp right into the picture! :) I was in love with your Miele a year ago and still am. Next dishwasher we get we’re definitely checking into this one, thanks!

    Reply

  20. That’s such an interesting review and topic on dishwashers, Christina. Lucky you on receiving a Miele – it’s the queen bee of machines I’m thinking these days. We have a washing machine and hoover and they are top products. Our dishwasher is Siemens – it’s wonderful and even copes (reasonably well, ahem) with parmesan residue but my major groan is that it may economise on water but a cycle takes nearly THREE HOURS! This drives me insane when entertaining, as you can imagine. A quick 30-min cycle just doesn’t clean 100% well.

    Love your pasta shells and stunning shots! We’re tending more towards vegetarian dishes these days and this is just the perfect dinner with a good bottle of red :-)

    Reply

  21. Christina – I just used a Miele dishwasher for the first time in Zürich! I loved it (as I knew I would from your earlier description). Being a somewhat frugal Scot myself, I can’t bring myself to replace my current dishwasher yet, but I get all excited just thinking about its demise! I know Miele will be next for me! (And who wouldn’t like a dishwasher named Honey?)

    The stuffed shells look so good, and remind me of the ones my Aunt Rae made for her Italian husband, Joe. Yum!

    Reply

    • David, I completely understand not replacing an appliance that is still working, but you will be oh, so happy when it dies if you are considering a Miele! And trust me, you’ll want to call it “honey”! :) Thanks for stopping by! CC

      Reply

  22. That sauce looks perfect. In going to give it a whirl next time I make sauce. I prefer a nice smooth sauce over a chunky one, and I’m trying really hard to find a recipe that is authentic and has a slight sweetness without actually adding sugar.

    Also, that dishwasher looks pretty great! Love the utensil rack

    Reply

    • Look no further, Dana, this is the real deal. However, what you’re looking for is not so much a recipe, but good ingredients. Get some really good quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh (not dry and growing) garlic, fresh parsley and basil and some tomatoes from Italy that already taste good when you taste it raw. The only thing left that you probably already have is good quality salt and pepper. Good luck!

      Reply

  23. I now have dishwasher envy. The last time I bought a new dishwasher, Miele was just beyond my budget. …. next time ….

    I do have a Miele vacuum cleaner though. I bought it 21 years ago, and it’s still going strong. I got tired of other brands of vacuums not sucking very well, too noisy, and breaking down quickly. I have had to replace a few parts, but I love it. The only problem is that because it vacuums so well, the bag fills quickly – especially with 3 cats around the house.

    Reply

    • That’s probably a really good thing that you have a Miele vacuum if you have 3 cats, Christel! Can you imagine if you didn’t have a good quality vacuum cleaner? You’d probably be living with lots of fur, or it would break down all the time, not being able to keep up! Quality is really more important than a lot of people deem necessary for their purchases, then they regret it long term.

      Reply

  25. Dear Christina,
    Thank you for your thoughts and sending your prayers as well. Yes, it has been a really rough time the whole month of June. I was in the hospital. I have had a bad case of Cellulitis on my leg. It has been so painful and it really takes so long to heal. The only way I would get some relief was laying down in the bed. This didn’t help my Lupus and MS as it was stressing me out so much. I have a nurse that comes 2 times a week to check my leg and my vitals. Thank God for pain killers, I am at least able to get up without crying from the pain. The doctors can’t figure out where or how I got this problem. I have not been on FB and have not posted anything to my blog as it has been hard to sit at my PC. Hopefully I will be back to blogging on Friday… Hope all is well with you and your families and you had a wonderful July 4th. I am sorry that I have not been able to get back to you sooner and read all of your posts. This recipe sounds really yummy, I will try to read the other posts, I miss reading and enjoying your recipes/posts.
    Blessings and love to all….Dottie x

    Reply

    • You poor thing, Dottie! You sound as you are in so much pain, and I’m so sorry to hear this! I truly hope you recover quickly, as much as you possibly can so that you can get back to your old self! I have missed seeing you online, but please do take care of yourself and I will keep you in my prayers. xx

      Reply

  26. I have that dishwasher and LOVE it! Love all things Miele. When we lived in France we had a Miele wine fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer! We have a dishwasher and washer and dryer now!

    Reply

  27. Dear Christina, sounds like a wonderful investment. I don’t always use my dishwasher just to save on water and preserve energy. Next time around I will have to look in Miele. It certainly sounds like a godsend especially with the California drought.

    Your stuffed shells look wonderful! Now I’m in the mood to make them. xo, Catherine

    Reply

  28. I appreciate my dishwasher, but if I had one like yours I am sure I’d *love* it – mine is still working OK, but I am secretly hoping it needs replacing soon! Meantime I will just have to enjoy this superb stuffed pasta dish, lovely!

    Reply

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