Welcome to Joe Malichio Cooking!

Qualifications:

Formal Training - None

Practical Training/Kitchen Cooking Lessons - 20 + years of observation & assistant to the best cook I have ever known, my mother.

Background; Grew up in the 50's & 60's, second generation Italian American, youngest of 3 children (only son), mother #10 of 11 children born to Italian Immigrants. Palma, my mother, due to her place in the birth order, was given the job of kitchen help. She and another sibling were responsible to help prepare dinner for the rest of the family who worked to support the household during the depression. There were a number of great cooks in that family, but I think my mother's cooking was exceptional. OK, so what son doesn't feel that way? Palma was not making Dover Sole or complex dishes with exotic ingredients. She was a believer in cooking what's fresh, local and looks and smells good. Our freezer was for ice cubes,ice cream and those little cans of frozen concentrated O.J. Fresh orange juice was not in the budget.

Cooking Credentials; Lots of praise and clean plate's when I cook for family and friends. First place in a meat ball competition at a town fund raiser, yes I have the medal to prove it. People that would have me over for dinner in the past, no longer invite me. They feel their cooking won't measure up to mine. Really, that's what they say!

Cooking Philosophy; My father Joe, also my name, my first son and first grandson's names, always said that I was a "good eater." This high praise from Dad, Palma's exceptional cooking and my voracious appetite caused me to shop for my Catholic School uniform pants in the "Husky" section at Robert Hall's and pursue a life-long goal to cook as good as Palma. I am no longer shopping in the Husky department at Robert Hall, they are out of business and I can not match Mom's talent at the stove. However, I still love good food and strive to find the recipe that makes people at my table smile and enjoy good food. 

Try some of these recipes and work them until you are smiling like Palma did when her family enjoyed their time at her table.