In order for you to make the right sounds with your slide, you need to learn to mute the strings above where your sliding. This will keep the strings from unwanted vibrations and keep them from producing unwanted sounds. To do this, gently press your fingers on the strings. Use just enough pressure to keep the strings from making unnecessary noises as they vibrate. To play your slide correctly, you need to make sure you are pressing it in the right place. You should not press the string under or above the fret because the note will sound flat.  You should also not press the string into the fretboard. Even if your eyes say that you are directly above the fret, listen to the note. If it sounds flat or wrong in any way, move your slide up and down until it makes the right note. To start learning to slide, pick a note on your guitar. Muting the other strings with your non-slide fingers, press gently with the slide and then move it up and down the strings to make the sliding sound. You can start slow to get a feel for the different technique of playing and motions needed to play with the slide on.  If you are using the slide on your middle finger, you will not be able to mute the strings. Just apply gently enough to get the sound you want. Try playing songs you are familiar with using your slide to get used to the different feel of the technique. When you use a slide, you should not press too hard on the strings. This will make the strings touch the fretboard, which will cause your guitar to make strange, unpleasant sounds. Move your hand up and down to gauge how hard you are pressing.  If it's hard to move the slide, you should lighten your pressure. The more you move your hand around, the better feel you will have for the strings. As you play note after note, the strings will continue to reverberate. If you slide up the string to your next note, all the notes in between will play as well. To avoid this, mute the strings between different notes using your other hand.  You can use the finger that you are picking with or the heel of your hand to help mute the strings. Sliding between the notes is part of the slide sound. However, if you slide between the notes you play, the sound can get overwhelming or redundant. Practice different songs to decide when to slide and when you should mute the strings.
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One-sentence summary -- Mute the strings above your slide. Press the slide directly above a fret. Slide into the notes. Use gentle pressure. Mute the strings between notes.


It is important for the space where you'll be working to be clear when you begin the removal process. Take everything off of the countertops. Remove everything out of the drawers and in the cabinets underneath the countertops. Place all of the items in a safe location that is out of the way. If you're working in the kitchen, all of the appliances will need to be unplugged and moved away from the countertops. For example, remove the stove and microwave out of the kitchen. Be careful not to damage them in the removal process. To safely remove your old countertop, you'll first have to  disconnect  the water lines to the sink and gas lines to the stovetop. Turn the emergency shut-off valves for each fixture clockwise to the off position. Disconnect the supply lines from the valves using an adjustable wrench. Have a bucket ready for draining water. Use your adjustable wrench to loosen the large nuts that hold the J or U-shaped trap to the sink's main drain line. Hold the trap in place with channel locks. If you have a PVC connection, you should be able to loosen the connection by hand. If you have a garbage disposal, disconnect it from the sink as well. your drop-in fixture sink. If you have a drop-in fixture sink, use a chisel or putty knife to pry the sink away from the countertop. Chop away at the layer of dried adhesive under the rim of the sink to free it. If the sink is fastened to a tile countertop, chisel away the quarter tiles along the sink's perimeter. Remove any remaining mortar or adhesive with a caulk remover or chisel. Get help to lift out the fixture, especially if it's large or heavy. If the sink is an undermount type, unfasten the screws holding it to the countertop. While someone supports the sink, remove the brackets underneath the sink. Use a flat chisel to remove the caulk that acts as a seal between the countertop and sink. The sink should come out easily once it is freed from the counter. Have another person help you pull out the sink, particularly if it's an unwieldy double-bowl configuration Be careful not to damage a sink or cooktop that you plan to re-install in your new countertop.
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One-sentence summary -- Remove everything from the countertop and drawers. Move appliances away from the countertops. Shut off the supply lines to the countertop fixtures. Disconnect the drain line under the sink.  Remove  Pull out the undermount-style sink.


Check on the cheese balls after the 15 minutes. The tops of the cheese balls should have a light, golden-brown coloring. If the cheese balls still appear doughy or pale, continuing baking them for another 5 minutes. Create a single layer of cheese balls on a platter to keep them from getting soggy as they cool. Just be careful when eating the cheese balls after they come out of the oven, as they may still be very hot. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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One-sentence summary -- Bake the chilled cheese balls in the oven at 350 °F (177 °C) for 15 minutes. Arrange the cheese balls on a platter and serve immediately.


A microwave-safe pie dish works well, but any dish marked safe for microwave use will be adequate. Only add enough walnuts to cover the bottom of the dish in a single layer. Keep the walnuts in halves or quarters to ensure the best possible toast. Check the walnuts to make sure that none have burned. Stir them using a heat-resistant spatula to make sure that each nut is getting cooked evenly. If your microwave does not have a rotating tray, turn the dish 180 degrees before continuing. Smell them to see if they have finished cooking. If done in the microwave, walnuts will not brown, but the toasted smell should still come through. This will not usually be necessary after the first 2 minutes of cooking, but it might prove useful if the halves are especially large. Eating them directly out of the microwave could cause you to burn your mouth.
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One-sentence summary --
Place the walnuts into a microwavable glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Cook the walnuts for another minute on high. Microwave in 20 second intervals as needed. Let the walnuts cool slightly before serving.