Dinner Candace Dorsey Dinner Candace Dorsey

Grilled Peach and Steak Salad

Yes, I did in fact, get my peaches from Georgia. Tifton, GA to be exact! As I was driving home from Florida last week, I stopped by the cutest store: The Market at Rutland Farms and picked up a bag of fresh peaches along with assorted fruit preserves to bring back to family. So if you are around the area, you should most definitely stop by!

Peaches are the perfect sweet addition to any summer salad. But let’s not stop there. Let’s crank up the grill and put some nice grill marks on those bad boys.

Did you say steak? Yeah, let’s throw some steaks on the grill as well!

 

Grilled Peach and Steak Salad - A fresh and flavorful salad using less than 10 ingredients and that includes a peach vinaigrette that can’t be beat! (gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo friendly)

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Yes, I did in fact, get my peaches from Georgia. Tifton, GA to be exact! As I was driving home from Florida last week, I stopped by the cutest store: The Market at Rutland Farms and picked up a bag of fresh peaches along with assorted fruit preserves to bring back to family. So if you are around the area, you should most definitely stop by! 

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Peaches are the perfect sweet addition to any summer salad. But let’s not stop there. Let’s crank up the grill and put some nice grill marks on those bad boys. 

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Did you say steak? Yeah, let’s throw some steaks on the grill as well! 

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With grilled peaches and steak in hand, the possibilities are endless now! Having steak as your main protein source, you could make a peach chutney to go over the steak and have a side of seasonal veggies and a starchy carb like potatoes or rice. 

Or....

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You could make this super easy and just toss a salad together! 

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Using less than 10 ingredients and made in under 20 minutes, you have a light but substantial fresh grilled salad with a dressing that can’t be beat! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with.


Grilled Peach and Steak Salad - A fresh and flavorful salad using less than 10 ingredients and that includes a peach vinaigrette that can’t be beat! (gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo friendly)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb grass-fed flank steak

  • 1-3 fresh peaches

  • 2 handfuls fresh arugula

  • 2 handfuls fresh spinach

  • 1/2 cup fresh strawberries (sliced)

  • ½ avocado (sliced)

  • ½ red onion (thinly sliced)

  • ¼ cup crumbled feta, goat, dairy-free feta, or blue cheese

  • ¼ cup chopped raw almonds

  • Steak seasoning of choice (I prefer the classic salt & pepper)

Peach vinaigrette 

  • 1 grilled peach halve 

  • ¼ cup avocado oil

  • 1 Tbsp coconut aminos or balsamic vinaigrette 

  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • Salt and pepper 

Directions

  1. Prepare the flank steaks by seasoning of choice. I prefer a generous seasoning of salt and pepper! 

  2. Get the grill ready by setting temperature to medium-high and coating grates with a little bit of cooking spray. 

  3. Remove the steaks from the fridge and let sit for 10 minutes. While you are waiting on your steaks, prepare the peaches by cutting them in half, removing the pits, and spraying both sides with nonstick spray. 

  4. Cook the flank steaks for about 5-7 minutes on each side until you have reached the desired “pinkness.” Cook the peaches on the grill for about the same time or until the peaches have nice grill markings.

  5. Transfer the flank steak to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes covered using aluminum foil. While your steak is resting and peaches are cooling, prepare the dressing.

  6. To a food processor, add in the grilled peach half, oil, aminos, vinegar, and salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste test before removing dressing from processor (i.e. want more peach flavor? Add another peach half! Need more salt? Add in more coconut aminos or salt)

  7. Now, it's time to build your salad! To a serving platter, layer with both greens, sliced grilled peaches, sliced grilled flank steak, avocado, red onion, almonds, cheese, strawberries and drizzle with peach vinaigrette. 

Notes

  • Red onions are not pictured in the blog pictures or IG reels but it’s strongly recommended for this salad! 

  • makes 4 servings

  • If you cannot find flank steak - skirt or sirloin cuts are a great alternative as these cuts are not as fatty and will pair nicely with this fresh and summery salad.

 
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Dinner Candace Dorsey Dinner Candace Dorsey

Tzatziki Dogs

What better way to embrace the first week of summer than by cranking up the grill!? Amiright!?Hopefully these tzatziki dogs will inspire you to do the same! Made with homemade gluten free pita bread, fresh cucumber tomato salad, and a dairy free friendly tzatziki sauce. And who can forget tha MEATS. Applegate hot dogs have:

X: chemical nitrates or nitrites

X: artificial ingredients or preservatives

X: GMO ingredients

√: FTR approved food products!

 

Tzatziki Dogs - Hot diggity dog, we are going greek! Made with homemade gluten-free pita bread, fresh cucumber tomato salad, and a dairy-free friendly tzatziki sauce.

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This is a sponsored post in partnership with Applegate. All opinions are my own. 

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What better way to embrace the first week of summer than by cranking up the grill!? Amiright!?Hopefully these tzatziki dogs will inspire you to do the same! Made with homemade gluten free pita bread, fresh cucumber tomato salad, and a dairy free friendly tzatziki sauce. And who can forget tha MEATS. Applegate hot dogs have: 

X: chemical nitrates or nitrites

X: artificial ingredients or preservatives

X: GMO ingredients

√: FTR approved food products! 

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So if you want to stock up on 100% natural summer grilling favorites like their hotdogs, sausages, and hamburgers, check them out here and receive a free coupon

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Once your fridge/freezer is stocked with all the goods, jump down for the recipe to make these super delicious Tzatziki Dogs! 

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If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!


Tzatziki Dogs - Hot diggity dog, we are going greek! Made with homemade gluten-free pita bread, fresh cucumber tomato salad, and a dairy-free friendly tzatziki sauce.

Ingredients 

Cucumber Tomato Salad

  • ½ english cucumber (sliced)

  • 2 tomatoes (diced)

  • 1-2 garlic clove (minced)

  • ¼ red onion (thinly sliced)

  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

  • Salt + pepper 

Tzatziki Sauce

  • ½ large english cucumber (grated)

  • ½ cup dairy-free plain yogurt

  • 1-3 garlic cloves (pressed)

  • 1-2 Tbsp fresh or dried dill

  • Zest and juice of half lemon

  • Salt + Pepper 

Gluten-free Pita Bread

  • 1 cup GF 1:1 baking flour

  • ⅔ cup dairy-free plain yogurt

  • 2 Tbsp baking powder

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • grass-fed butter 

Hot Dogs

  • 6-pack Applegate organic grass-fed hotdogs 

  • Feta, goat cheese or dairy-free feta

  • Mixed greens

  • Fresh parsley 

Directions

  1. To make the tzatziki sauce

    1. Tzatziki sauce needs time to develop flavor so start making the sauce first. Grate half english cucumber and add the grated cucumber to a mesh strainer over a bowl. Sprinkle 1 tsp salt and mix to combine. Use your hands to squeeze the salted cucumber in the mesh strainer; trying to get out as much liquid as possible. 

    2. Transfer the cucumber into a small bowl and add yogurt, garlic, dill, zest and juice of lemon and seasonings. Stir it all together and taste if you need to season more. 

    3. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving if you have time. 

  2. To make the pita bread

    1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Use the back of a spoon to stir and mash the yogurt into the flour; until clumps of dough forms. Transfer dough and leftover flour from the bowl onto a flat surface and knead with your hands until a smooth ball forms. Divide the dough into 6 balls (best to weigh each ball for accurate size). Roll each ball out on a floured surface. **A tortilla press is perfect for this if you have it! 

    2. In a medium pan or cast iron skillet, add a pad of butter or preferred oil on medium-high heat. Place the pita bread in the skillet and cook 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining pita breads. 

    3. Feel free to sprinkle fresh parsley and garlic over the bread as it’s cooling! 

  3. To make the cucumber tomato salad

    1. Simply combine all ingredients into a medium bowl and adjust seasonings based on preference (i.e. salt, pepper, vinegar) 

  4. To make the hot dogs

    1. Grill or cook in a skillet based on package instructions. 

  5. Assembly time! To a warm pita bread, layer with mixed greens, a dollop of tzatziki sauce, grilled hot dog, cucumber tomato salad, and garnish with fresh parsley, cheese crumbles, and yogurt drizzle. Enjoy! 

Notes 

  • Products used for this recipe: Applegate hot dogs, lactose free plain yogurt, tortilla press

  • Tips for making the dough: the dough may seem too dry, but I promise you, once you start kneading, the dough will start to form. BUT: if it’s too dry; knead a Tbsp of yogurt or too wet; knead a Tbsp of flour at a time. Also remember that the more time you fiddle with the dough, the harder it gets to work with because the baking powder and yogurt start to activate.

 
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Dinner Candace Dorsey Dinner Candace Dorsey

Spicy Thai Tofu with Crispy Coconut Spaghetti Squash Noodles

Believe it or not, I was a vegetarian for four years when I was a teenager! I know, I can’t believe it either! But when I was a vegetarian, tofu stir fry was my jam! It was something that could be made pretty fast, kept me satiated, and burst with amazing flavors.

Within those years, I thought I was being healthy because I eliminated animal proteins from my diet. What I ended up doing was going into refined carb heaven eating all the desserts, pasta, bread, processed soy products, lots of Taco Bell...

 

Spicy Thai Tofu with Crispy Coconut Spaghetti Squash Noodles - A plant based dish that is fun and flavorful! Great for dinner, #meatlessmonday, or for your lunch meal prep rotations.  

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Believe it or not, I was a vegetarian for four years when I was a teenager! I know, I can’t believe it either! But when I was a vegetarian, tofu stir fry was my jam! It was something that could be made pretty fast, kept me satiated, and burst with amazing flavors. 

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Within those years, I thought I was being healthy because I eliminated animal proteins from my diet. What I ended up doing was going into refined carb heaven eating all the desserts, pasta, bread, processed soy products, lots of Taco Bell... 

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The imbalance lead to health issues like protein sores in my mouth, skin turning a gray color, lethargy, weight gain, brain fog, acne, the list goes on!

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So knowing the route I took on my vegetarian journey, you can probably tell that my go-to tofu stir fry probably wasn’t healthy. Haha, and you guessed right! I used the ramen noodles from the cheap Maruchan noodle packets and half a bottle of soy sauce. I threw in a bag of frozen oriental stir fry veggie mix and cubed tofu and that made the entire dish seem healthy in my mind. 

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And this is not to say that everyone who is a vegan/vegetarian is not healthy. Just like eating meat, being paleo, intuitive eating, counting macros, celery cleanse, etc, it’s all about having a diet rich in nutrient-dense, properly prepared, whole foods. That’s it. So wherever you are at in your journey with food, keep that in mind. And if you are just starting, here is a great post to help you in discovering what that looks like for you and your own personal journey. 

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One thing I will make a note of about this dish is that we are using organic sprouted tofu as our main protein source. In order for this meal to be properly prepared, I use organic sprouted tofu as the source of my protein. The reason that I chose sprouted over regular tofu is that the health benefits far outweigh. The sprouting process improves digestion and increases nutrient absorption. It also contains more protein and higher levels of calcium than regular tofu. 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 


Spicy Thai Tofu with Crispy Coconut Spaghetti Squash Noodles - A plant based dish that is fun and flavorful! Great for dinner, #meatlessmonday, or for your lunch meal prep rotations.  

Ingredients

Coconut Noodles

  • 1 medium spaghetti squash

  • ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk

  • ¼ cup toasted coconut flakes

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil

Marinade

  • 14 oz organic sprouted extra firm tofu

  • ¼ cup unsweetened coconut milk

  • 1 Tbsp red curry paste

  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)

  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger (minced)

  • 1 Tbsp gluten-free low-sodium tamari sauce or liquid (coconut) aminos

  • 1 Tbsp arrowroot starch

  • 1 tsp fish sauce (*vegan fish sauce if vegan)

Peanut Sauce

  • 2 Tbsp creamy organic peanut butter

  • 1 Tbsp gluten-free low-sodium tamari sauce or liquid (coconut) aminos

  • 1 Tbsp water

  • 2 tsp chili garlic sauce

  • 1 tsp fresh ginger (minced)

  • ½ tsp coconut sugar

  • ½ juice of a lime

Garnish

  • ¼ cup unsalted peanuts, chopped cilantro, chili garlic sauce, lime wedges

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 

  2. To make the spaghetti squash, cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and lightly drizzle with oil and salt and pepper. Place squash face down on the baking sheet and roast for 35-45 minutes or until the squash peels easily away from the skin. Set aside to cool before dragging a fork across the squash to create noodles. 

  3. To make the tofu, once you are done pressing the tofu to get the excess liquid out, cut into cubes and add to a Ziploc bag. In a small bowl, add all the marinade ingredients and mix until well combined. Pour mixture into a Ziploc bag and toss tofu to coat. Let sit for at least 15-30 minutes.

  4. While the tofu is marinating, make the peanut sauce by adding all sauce ingredients to a small bowl and whisk vigorously until ingredients are well combined. Should be smooth and creamy yet pourable. 

  5. Once the squash has cooled down and you have scraped out all the squash into noodles, transfer to a large skillet that is set on medium-high heat with about 1 Tbsp oil.

  6. Saute in the oil for 5-10 minutes or until crispy. Add coconut milk to the noodles and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes or until most of the liquid has cooked off and you are left with crispy yet moist noodles. Take the skillet off the heat and garnish with toasted coconut flakes. Set aside.

  7.  You can either bake the tofu in the oven or cook in the same skillet you just used for the spaghetti squash noodles. I like to cook the tofu in the skillet to give it a crispy texture.

  8. Transfer noodle mixture into a large bowl and top with the tofu. Drizzle peanut sauce over the dish or put in a small serving dish to have on the side. Garnish with toppings and enjoy with chopsticks! 

Notes

 
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Healthy Salmon Patties with Lemon Dill Potato Salad

Growing up as a kid, salmon patties were my jam! I loved them so much, my mother would make salmon patties, mashed potatoes, and peas as my birthday dinner meal. There just wasn’t anything that could top that meal, haha!

So in honor of my childhood favorite food, I present to you healthier, less oily, and processed salmon patties! These patties are gluten and dairy-free, paleo, and use clean ingredients that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
To turn this into meal prep or a full dinner recipe, I have added a simple lemon dill potato salad (dairy-free) and grilled asparagus. Just simply divide all ingredients into 3-4 servings and it’s great to store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

 

Healthy Salmon Patties with Lemon Dill Potato Salad - A healthier, less oily, and processed take on salmon patties! Patties are gluten/dairy-free and paleo and the potato salad is dairy-free - a 30-minute quick dinner meal or meal prep recipe! 

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Growing up as a kid, salmon patties were my jam! I loved them so much, my mother would make salmon patties, mashed potatoes, and peas as my birthday dinner meal. There just wasn’t anything that could top that meal, haha! 

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So in honor of my childhood favorite food, I present to you healthier, less oily, and processed salmon patties! These patties are gluten and dairy-free, paleo, and use clean ingredients that can be made in less than 30 minutes. 
To turn this into meal prep or a full dinner recipe, I have added a simple lemon dill potato salad (dairy-free) and grilled asparagus. Just simply divide all ingredients into 3-4 servings and it’s great to store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

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To make this a quick and easy meal prep, I use canned wild salmon, specifically Wild Planet. You can also use leftover salmon if you have it as well. The ingredients are pretty simple and most likely, you will have everything in your pantry or fridge. 

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If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 


Healthy Salmon Patties with Lemon Dill Potato Salad - A healthier, less oily, and processed take on salmon patties! Patties are gluten/dairy-free and paleo and the potato salad is dairy-free - a 30-minute quick dinner meal or meal prep recipe! 

Ingredients

For the Salmon Patties

  • 2-(6 oz) cans wild pink salmon (drained)

  • 1 egg (beaten)

  • ½ red onion (finely diced)

  • ½ red bell pepper (finely diced)

  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)

  • 1 Tbsp mayo

  • 2 Tbsp fresh dill

  • ½ lemon (juice)

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil + more for pan-frying

  • 1 tsp dijon mustard

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • ¼ tsp S&P

For the lemon dill potato salad

  • 1 bag (24 oz) unpeeled golden or tri-color baby potatoes

  • 2 Tbsp mayo

  • 1 Tbsp dijon mustard

  • 1 clove garlic (minced)

  • 1 Tbsp fresh dill

  • 1 tsp avocado oil

  • ½ lemon (juice)

  • S&P to taste

Side

  • Asparagus (bunch)


Directions

To make the salmon patties:

  1. Add one Tbsp avocado oil to a medium pan and saute the onion, garlic, and red pepper for 6-8 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Remove from heat and let cool.

  2. To a large mixing bowl, add the cooled onion mixture along with salmon, egg, mayo, dill, lemon juice, mustard, and seasonings. Combine all ingredients with your hands until well mixed. 

  3. Form the salmon mixture into small patties with your hands and place them to the side (make about 6 patties).

  4.  Heat 1-2 Tbsp avocado oil in a large pan on medium heat and cook the salmon patties for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove the salmon patties to a paper towel-lined plate. 

To make the potato salad:

  1. Boil potatoes in salted water until soft, approx 10 minutes. 

  2. Drain and let cool.

  3. While the potatoes are boiling, combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. 

  4. Once the potatoes are done and are cooled, cut the potatoes into 2-4 pieces and mix into the bowl with the wet ingredients until all the potatoes are fully coated in the mixture. 

  5. Serve with additional salt and pepper to taste along with fresh dill and lemon zest. Serve room temperature or refrigerate until ready to serve.

  6. To turn this into a meal/meal prep, simply add grilled asparagus as the other side. Divide patties, potato salad, and asparagus into 3-4 servings, and enjoy!  

Notes

  • I use the following brands for tuna - Wild Planet, mayonnaise - Primal Kitchen

  • To make the salmon patties in the oven rather than pan-frying: line a baking sheet or spray avocado oil spray on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes on each side.

  • If you would like to make a dipping sauce, simply mix ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh dill, juice, and zest of half lemon and S&P together until combined and serve!

 
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Sauces, Dinner Candace Dorsey Sauces, Dinner Candace Dorsey

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

If you are looking for a dairy-free version of the traditional alfredo sauce then look no further! Made with whole food ingredients that most will have on hand. All you need is a strong blender that will create this creamy velvety sauce texture, that’s it!

 

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce is a creamy dairy-free, gluten-free healthier version as compared with the original recipe. 

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If you are looking for a dairy-free version of the traditional alfredo sauce then look no further! Made with whole food ingredients that most will have on hand. All you need is a strong blender that will create this creamy velvety sauce texture, that’s it! 

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I love mixing my sauce with pasta noodles, chicken, veggies, or use as pizza sauce! 

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If you are looking for a more cheesier vegan or dairy-free sauce, check out my favorite spicy vegan cheese sauce recipe.

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If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 


Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce is a creamy dairy-free, gluten-free healthier version as compared with the original recipe. 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (packed) boiled cauliflower

  • ½ cup plant based milk

  • ½ cup chicken or veggie stock

  • ½ cup cashews (soaked and drained)

  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

  • 4 cloves minced garlic

  • ½ white onion

  • Juice of 1 lemon

  • 1 tsp grass fed or vegan butter

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and cook for about 8-15 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender. Reserve 1 cup of boiling water. 

  2. In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and diced onions until soft and fragrant. Season with salt and pepper. 

  3. Drain the cauliflower and transfer to a blender. Add the sautéed garlic and onions, milk, stock, cashews, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. If the sauce looks too thick or dry, slowly add the reserved boiling water. Season with more salt and pepper for desired taste. 

  4. Serve with cooked pasta and enjoy! 

Notes

  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container. Will last 4-5 days in the fridge. 

  • Freezer friendly! Since there is no dairy in the mixture, you can freeze the alfredo sauce once it’s cooled down. 

  • Use the sauce with pasta, chicken, vegetables, or even as a pizza sauce!

 
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