If your floor is very dirty or has not been washed in a long time, it can be helpful to use a granite-safe cleaning solution, such as Method Granite Cleaner Spray or Weiman Granite Cleaner. Never use "all-purpose" household cleaning products on granite. Ventilate the area. If you choose to clean your granite with a store-bought granite solution, it likely will give off fumes from the chemicals. Open a window to maintain better airflow while you work. Spray the cleaner on one tile at a time, wiping with a soft cloth. If you spray on many tiles at once and the solution is left standing, it may stain your granite. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth to minimize water stains. For deep or set-in stains, apply a poultice to draw the stain out of the stone. Mix baking soda and water until the mixture has the consistency of sour cream. Spread the paste on the stain and cover with plastic wrap. Leave it covered for 24 hours. After 24 hours, wash the paste off as you would normally clean your granite tiles, with soap and warm water. Grout is a magnet for dirt and dust. If dirty grout is making your tiles appear less clean, seek out a granite-safe grout cleaner, such as Granite Gold Grout Cleaner or Tile Lab Grout Cleaner. Many normal grout formulas are abrasive and will damage your granite tile. Use a toothbrush or other small brush to clean the grout between your granite tiles. This will ensure the grout cleaner is applied in a more targeted manner. Always avoid using harsh scrubbers of any kind on your granite tile.
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One-sentence summary -- Employ a granite-safe cleaning solution for more difficult jobs. Try a baking soda poultice on deep stains. Clean grout with a granite-safe choice.

In a suitable pot, bring water to a boil and add your noodles. Subtract a few minutes from the cooking time indicated on the box, and cook it until the noodles are only slightly rigid. Generally, you'll have to cook your pasta for about 10 minutes. You'll want your noodles a little under cooked because the noodles will continue to cook in your sauce when you bake your rigatoni in the oven. Cooking your noodles fully before baking might cause your noodles to be mushy and over-soft. You may notice that some pasta boxes direct you to add salt to the water. This will add flavor to your pasta as it cooks. This will help your sauce to infuse the entire dish so that the bottom noodles don't come out dry and sauceless. Use a spoon to spread a thin layer of sauce along the bottom of your baking pan. Usually, this will only take 2 spoonfuls of sauce. You'll want to use a pan a few inches (5 - 7 cm) deep so that your baked rigatoni doesn't overflow while cooking. A 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) pan would work well for this. Add your under cooked noodles to the pan. An oven safe casserole dish works as an excellent replacement for metal baking dishes. If you have no metal pans suitable for your baked rigatoni, use a casserole dish instead. If you are making a large quantity of rigatoni, you may want to use a larger pan. The noodles should sit in the pan so there is a small space between the noodles and the lip of the pan. Position the saucepan over your noodle filled baking dish and either pour or scoop the mixture onto the pasta. The mixture should form an even layer over the noodles, and you may need to use a spoon to evenly distribute the mixture. Once your noodles are covered, you can sprinkle your remaining cheese atop it. This will create a cheesy top layer in your rigatoni after it bakes.
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One-sentence summary -- Boil the rigatoni noodles until slightly under cooked. Sauce your pan. Layer your noodles in a pan. Cover your noodles with your meat/sauce mixture.

Then, you can add the bay leaves and onion. Turn once as it simmers. Lower the heat if the sauce begins to boil. Carefully removing the saute pan from the heat, pour the marinade sauce out of the pan and into a bowl. You can use the same bowl you marinated the meat in. Make sure the meat does not fall out as you pour the sauce. 1 tablespoon of olive or canola oil will work. This will help the meat not stick. This will take 10-20 minutes. Use medium heat to brown the meat, but turn the heat higher if the meat is cooking very slowly. Carefully transfer the marinade sauce back to the saute pan, then bring the pan to a boil. The chicken or pork should be tender and the sauce will be a thick, deep brown. The meat should be fully cooked throughout. Taste the marinade sauce and see if it needs more salt or pepper. You can use a rice cooker to prepare 2-3 cups of brown or white rice, depending on how many people you are feeding. 1 cup usually feeds 2 people.
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One-sentence summary -- Place the chicken and marinade in a deep sided saute pan over medium heat. Simmer the meat for 15 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a bowl. Add oil to the pan. Brown the chicken or pork on all sides. Return the sauce to the pan. Simmer for 20-30 minutes over medium heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

A major part of diplomacy is helping others feel comfortable with you. Instead of jumping right into a serious talk, establish a level of friendliness with others. Talk about each other's weekends, spouses, kids or hobbies. Discuss the latest news or TV shows that you're watching. Help them feel at ease by showing your interest in their lives. Inject humor where you can. Show empathy for them by mimicking their gestures and posture. If they are sitting with their hand resting under their chin, do the same. This shows that you are engaged in the conversation. Smile at them when you see them at first, as well. People often respond positively to the use of their own name. Every so often, use their name while you're talking. It can be something simple like "Where would you like to have lunch, Kyle?" or something more serious like "Andrea, I'm so sorry to hear about your mother." When having a talk with someone, avoid using your phone or daydreaming. Instead, actively listen to them so that you can understand their perspective. Relay back what they said to you to prove that you hear them. For instance, you might say "It sounds like having to take care of your mother and your small child is really taking a toll on your health." Show that you're listening to them by learning more about what they're discussing. Ask them open-ended questions that require thought and more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Ask something like "Wow, you went to Greece? What made you decide to go there and what did you like best?"
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One-sentence summary --
Make small talk to create comfort. Mirror their body language. Use their name in conversation. Be an attentive listener. Ask them questions.