Author: Louis Dell'Olio

…………………………YOUR CONSUMER ADVOCATE HERE!…….This time I’m discussing the two LONG SLEEVE, MOCK NECK, CASHMERE SWEATERS from AMAZON I ordered…photos on the left……What I received was two SHORT SLEEVED CREW NECK T-SHIRT SWEATERS…..The colors and material were correct….but….the styles were totally different from what I ordered….Amazon doesn’t even offer the short sleeve version!….I called Amazon customer service, and they said they would get back to the seller and I should hear back within 48 hours…if not to call them again….I heard nothing so I called customer service again. After a very lengthy process of answering recorded questions…I finally spoke to a very snippy man who also said they would get back to the seller and I would have to wait another 48 hours to hear from the seller who was supposed to send me a pre paid return sticker…..Again, nothing…..The THIRD time I called, again after the same lengthy process…. the customer service person, after I explained the whole story AGAIN, said they would issue a refund….It’s very difficult to get to speak with a LIVE representative……Also, I told each of the persons that I spoke to that the address given by the seller DIDN’T EXIST….The man at my post office informed me of this, and before I sent anything back I should make sure that the address was correct….This seller still hasn’t posted the correct address……Now I have to wait and see if indeed I was refunded for the two sweaters…..AGGRAVATION!……I must say that 95% of what I have ordered has come in correctly….ALL of the items, so far, that have been incorrect have been from CHINA!

…………..The other day I was talking to Teresa, my house keeper, and she told me she made herself a delicious dinner of Pasta, Peas and Bacon…..The Italians actually use Pancetta, but regular bacon is a good option. It’s easy, quick and delicious. There are various ways to make it, and I took Teresa’s receipt and elaborated on it…..You can use different types of pasta. I chose Shell pasta, because it holds the peas and bacon well…..First, I cooked the bacon so it was on the crispy side…just the way I prefer it… Once cooked I broke it up into pieces, and put it aside. Then I boiled salted water for the pasta….Next, as the water was boiling, I poured vegetable broth in a large pan with high sides…then added two generous pats of unsalted butter, ground pepper and salt….and heated it on med. heat until the butter melted, next I put a splash of heavy cream [use as much or as little as you like, I used approx. 1/2 of a cup, and I added red pepper flakes [it’s optional, and the amount you use is up to you….I like it spicy]…then in went the baby peas that I defrosted. I kept stirring it and added my broken up bacon until it was all mixed well and hot…..Then I added the pasta shells on the al dente side, because they keep cooking….You add them to the large pan of peas and bacon and onions….Then I added some grated Pecorino/Parmesan…mixing it all up….again the amount of cheese is up to you….I like a lot….MIX it well…I put it all in a large bowl and gave myself a healthy portion in a pasta bowl, and added more cheese on top……….DONE, and ready to mange!……..It was DELICIOUS, and I put the leftovers in a bowl covered in saran wrap into the refrigerator. It’s best to eat it the next day. You can’t keep it for long….I know! PASTA two nights in a row!!! SACRILEGE!…. That’s OKAY with me!…..When I heat it up I’ll put it in a pot with more vegetable broth until it’s hot….keep stirring!……………….ENJOY!

…………..YOUR CONSUMER ADVOCATE HERE!………….Here is another BAD purchase that I made that I’m telling you NOT TO BUY!!!!…..When I saw the video I was SOLD….It was just what I needed. I have wall sockets that are behind things like a book case in my kitchen that are just too heavy too move, and this was the perfect solution. The video is GREAT….It’s supposed to extend and “SWIVEL”…….Well, it did extend, but the part that was supposed to enable it to swivel wasn’t there…OKAY, I could do without it swiveling, but I WASN’T happy…….Then I plugged it in, and IT DIDN”T WORK!….So I tried it in other wall sockets, and it STILL DIDN”T WORK!!!!. I showed it to Lou, my friend, who also happens to be a handy man as a profession……He told me it was BROKEN and a piece of CHEAP PLASTIC JUNK!!!!! I have tried to return it to no avail…..It’s a total disappointment, because the idea is great, but the execution is the worst!………..DO NOT BUY,,,,no matter how tempted you are…..It’s GARBAGE….and that’s just where it’s going!!!!!!!…….Since my purchase I have seen it has gotten very bad reviews!…………..What truly bothers me is you just can’t trust any of these companies…..Where is the integrity? Where is the truth in advertising? It’s totally non existent…..These is very little you can trust these days…so I shouldn’t be surprised about getting crappy products….I will have to make better selections and be much more careful buying on line.

…………….Where you bring your guests to sit and dine the table is the center of the dining experience…..I think it makes the food taste better when you are sitting at a beautiful table……AUTUMN…..has officially arrived….the weather is changing….the days are getting shorter, and the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors…..all signs that it was time to create a new table scape…….I started with a long ORANGE table cloth, and on top of that I put my shorter printed table cloth with PUMPKINS, VINES and FALL LEAVES….I use my matching print napkins which are held with thick STRAW napkin rings……For my dinner ware I chose my BAMBOO edged dinner and salad plates which sit on GOLD chargers. They all rest on thick STRAW mats…..I used my GOLD spoons, forks and knives to keep the colors warm… For drink ware I have my TORTOISE wine goblets, water glasses and an extra shorter glass for whatever else my guests would like to drink….maybe something alcoholic and SPICY!….For my center piece I have a large ceramic pumpkin with four smaller matching pumpkins surrounding the center one…..Jac and I bought these YEARS AGO…. They each have lights in them which creates a lovely HALLOWEEN mood…..Also, I have tall tapered candles in mixed colors….orange, yellow and wine….which are in different heights GOLD candle holders…..For additional lighting I have my DANDELION LIGHTS, my GOLD STAR lights and four different color candles in the shapes of pears…..I do want my guests to SEE what they are eating!…..I have my pumpkin salt and pepper shakers at one end and my pair of owl salt and pepper shakers at the other end……To finish the decorations I have added four GLASS gourds and pumpkins on stands. When the lights hit them they glow….To I also have four small pumpkin color vases filled with yellow and orange foliage……..Now all I need is the soft background music and my guests!…..I think a PUMPKIN CHEESE CAKE will be on the menu!