# File lib/chef/expander/flattener.rb, line 47
      def flatten_and_expand
        @flattened_item = Hash.new {|hash, key| hash[key] = []}

        @item.each do |key, value|
          flatten_each([key.to_s], value)
        end

        @flattened_item.each_value { |values| values.uniq! }
        @flattened_item
      end