Favorite Recipes

At almost every event, Michelle brags about her husband’s cooking. Countless number of people have asked for a taste of Joe’s delicious delights. Since this is pretty much impossible, we’ve decided to offer Michelle’s favorite recipes prepared by Joe, here for you to enjoy.

We are offering My Joey’s Recipes, a unique cookbook, filled with some of Joe’s best culinary masterpieces. The book will also have some helpful cooking tips, as well as some thoughtful insights into the art of fine cooking.

“Chef” Joey will include recipes for every meal of the day. He will also include some of Michelle’s favorite desserts. Plus, for all of you carb counters, Joe will show you how to cut the carbs in certain recipes, without sacrificing taste.

Where did Joe go to Culinary School?

What cooking school did Joe attend? The School of Hard Knocks!! Joe attributes his cooking skills to two major women in his life - his mother, Mildred Franco and his grandmother, Carmela Grossi.

Joe says, “Mom was a great cook, and what made her cooking great was that she loved to cook, especially for her family. Mom truly cooked with all of her heart and soul! Sunday afternoon meals were the highlight of our week. Even after we all got married, we made it over to mom’s house as often as we could. My mom spoiled us with her cooking, so much so that when I often visited a friend’s house for dinner, I soon realized the gem I had at home!

“My grandmother was also an outstanding cook. She, too, was always in the kitchen, cooking up something for herself and my grandfather, Joe “Kelly” Grossi. Everything she cooked had that certain “home cooked” flavor to it. I don’t no if it was the old pots she used to cook in, or the ingredients she used, but every time I ate at her house, I walked away from the table very full and very satisfied.”

Cooking is what first brought Joe and Michelle together - he will tell that story in the cookbook!!

So, enjoy this recipe, and if you’re happy with it, buy the book!!

My Joey’s Recipes

Coming soon.... target release date, July 2004
Cost $9.99 + shipping and handling.

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Pasta with Marinara Tomato Sauce, by Joe Franco

• 1 pound dried Pasta: Penne or Farfalle are delicious (Favorite Brand is Barilla)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 4 cups tomato sauce, recipe follows
• 1/2 cup grated cheese, preferably Locatelli Romano (salty and very good), Pecorino Romano (also salty and delicious), grated Asiago (a milder cheese that melts well over hot pasta) or shredded Mozzarella (a very mild soft cheese that also melts very well over hot pasta)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, shredded

In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil. When water comes to a boil, add one tablespoon of Olive Oil, to help prevent the spaghetti from sticking together, then add pasta. Stir constantly for the first minute to help prevent sticking. Cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. See Pasta package for specific details.

Drain pasta in a colander, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water. Place pasta in a large bowl and add 2 cups of sauce, mix to coat completely. Add pasta water if you need to thin out the sauce a bit. Put the pasta in a large bowl and sprinkle with grated cheese and basil. Add additional sauce if necessary.

Marinara Tomato Sauce:

• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil, or just enough to coat the bottom of a large sauce pan
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped, optional
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (28 or 32-ounce) cans Whole Peeled Tomatoes (Buy the good stuff - Tuttarossa, Redpack, Progresso, Hunts, to name a few - never use Supermarket Store-Brands)
  Fresh basil (about 4 leaves shredded)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped fine
• ½ cup Red or White Wine (NOT COOKING WINE)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

Put the tomatoes through a food processor or blender, blend for 5-10 seconds. The tomatoes should be well broken up, but still a little chunky. If you like a thinner sauce, blend tomatoes until smooth.

In a large sauce pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 3 to 5 minutes. Add celery and season with salt and pepper. Saute until the onion and celery are soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 30-45 seconds, stirring constantly - you don’t want to burn your garlic. Add tomatoes, basil, parsley and wine, cover and bring to a boil. Then, simmer with cover slightly ajar on low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

If you are not using all of the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer bags. You can keep these in the freezer up to 6 months.

Yield: 6 - 8 cups, depending upon size of tomato cans.

Additional tips:

• To add some spicy heat, add ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes when adding tomatoes to the pot.
• In regards to the wine, NEVER USE COOKING WINE!! It’s very high in salt and has no flavor. My rule of thumb is simple - whatever you enjoy drinking, you’ll enjoy cooking with your food. The wine doesn’t have to be very expensive, just good quality. My personal favorites are:
  • Chianti, Burgundy or Merlot (Red Wines - I have no favorite brands)
  • Fontana Candida Frascati or Pinot Grigio (One of my favorite White wine brands from Italy)
  • Hogue Harvest White (A delicious Varietal Blend from Washington State)
• If sauce still tastes acidic, here’s a tip from the Food Network - add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it no longer tastes acidic. Add no more than 4 tablespoons butter to sauce.

Carb Control Tips:

• If you’re doing the Atkins diet, you can’t have Tomato Sauce during the Induction Phase.
• To low carb this meal, substitute the regular dried pasta with Reduced Carb Pasta. Although none of the low carb pastas can ever match up to the taste of regular pasta, the Mueller’s brand make a decent low carb pasta.

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Favorite Websites

Web design that is simply divine! Web designer: Tony Paparelli - AAP Consulting
www.aapconsulting.com

Tovah Records - home of Michelle Gold, Raphael, Marty Goetz, Steve Wiggins, Aly, Sharon Chernoff, Sue Samual, Everlife, and many more Spirit filled Messianic artists lifting up their praise!
www.tovahmusic.com

Amazing guy...amazing photographer - Allen Clark
www.thunderimagegroup.com

Our home church in NYC
www.parkslopechristiancenter.org

An amazing church in Nashville, TN where God is moving & the people treat you like gold!
www.bornagainchurch.org

Wanna learn more about how to be Jewish and believe in Jesus? This is the site for you. Also, great gifts and cards sold here for your Jewish friends
www.jewsforjesus.org

The best financial help you can get in this whole entire world! A great program of simple & easy lessons on a series of tapes and CD’s to play in the car with you. It’s even entertaining. Or...You can take live “Financial Peace University” classes in your neighborhood! If you are already doing well, you will be richer and if you are going through hard times, you will come out on top.
www.daveramsey.com

Get tips on everything from marriage to finances
www.ChristianityToday.com/marriage

The latest news and world events covered from a Christian perspective
www.cbn.com

The best support group in the world for people in abusive or unhealthy relationships
www.Al-anon.org

Website encouraging young people to practice abstinence
www.truelovewaits.com

See what’s going on in Israel where hundreds of Jewish people make a decision to believe in Y’shua everyday! This is an incredible TV show & outreach for youth and the testimonies on the website are phenomenal
www.heartrock.org

An amazing ministry changing lives one life at time in Israel. They offer a free Messianic Newsletter which knocks my socks off every time I read it!
www.tikkunministries.org

My favorite Contemporary Christian Singer - she's the BEST!!
www.crystallewis.com

Christian Attorney who is a wealth of knowledge - sponsors a monthly music forum in NYC
www.rpdieguez.com/thecircle.html or rpdieguez.com/Amen for Gospel Musicians

Looking for a job in Music?
www.backstage.com

Official Website of the Gospel Music Association- Find out about workshops, weekend events and even the Dove Awards here!!
www.gospelmusic.org

970 WWDJ-AM Christian Radio Station serving the NYC area- We love you, George Flores!
www.nycradio.com

A hidden treasure for songwriters in New York City! They Conduct workshops for singer/songwriters (Make sure to click on NAPM) Or, call Bob Leone at 212-957-9230
www.songwritershalloffame.org

The undeniable rhythm of NY Producer Ira Gold & Keith Kemper can turn any dance song into a masterpiece.
www.gktunes.com