Chicken adobo*’tis the season

Hi friends!! Hope you are enjoying all this magical season has to offer. Isn’t it hard to believe it’s already the second week of December? This season and its precious moments always seem fleeting like the way film passes through a reel. I feel as though I’m always clinging so tight to hold on.

I recently attended a program focused on being your best self. And for me, that means setting my phone and all social media aside more, looking my loved ones in the eyes more, and just generally being more present in every moment. It was the perfect time for this message, a wonderful reminder to celebrate every day of this special time of year.

I’ve still been doing a lot of cooking, but in the interest of slowing down, I’ve been limiting my photo snapping. And I have to admit it’s been a nice little break. Instead of rushing to jot down my recipe and snap the perfect photo, I’ve been focusing on how much joy I get from creating each dish and feeding my family.  I’ve been acknowledging the way that cooking fulfills me and each of my five senses. I love the feeling of a wooden spoon in my hand as I slowly stir back and forth, the spoon gliding against the bottom of a pan.  I love the sound of an oven igniting and the gentle bubbling of a simmering sauce. I love the sight of ingredients coming together. And of course I love the smells that fill the house when I cook, creating the excitement and anticipation of that first bite. Cooking at this pace is when I feel the most calm and when my mind can freely wander. It’s usually not long before the moment is interrupted by my toddler running at full speed into my legs. But even just ten minutes of standing over the stove alone with just my dish and my thoughts can rejuvenate me.

During this time of year, my wandering thoughts are often about my childhood. And being Filipino, my childhood consisted of regular gatherings filled with lots of family, lots of noise and laughter, lots of dancing and singing, and lots of food.  This holiday season one my goals is to share more Filipino recipes. I’ve been overjoyed to see a Filipino food movement starting in this country. And it makes me so happy to share the food of my childhood with all of you.

If you have Filipino relatives or friends then chances are you’re very familiar with chicken adobo. And if you’re not familiar, it’s the perfect dish to win your heart. For me, adobo is the ultimate comfort food. It was present at every family gathering growing up and was also a staple weeknight dinner.

From a technique standpoint, Filipino adobo is very simple. You marinade the meat, then throw it all in a pot and simmer. The marinade does all the hard work. It consists of a soy sauce and vinegar base flavored with garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, and ‘lil brown sugar. One thing that is different about Filipino adobo as compared to other braised dishes is that the searing comes after the simmer, meaning you brown the meat after it’s cooked. The smell of that marinade-drenched chicken is what my childhood and dreams are made of.

The best way to enjoy adobo is over white steamed rice. You could certainly substitute with quinoa or brown rice. But I can’t betray the way I ate it growing up. So for me, its steamed white rice all the way.

When you eat adobo, you want a fork and a spoon. The spoon is for drizzling more sauce over your rice or for slurping the sauce right into your mouth. It’s also perfectly acceptable to eat chicken adobo with your hands.

 

If you haven’t tried Filipino food before, I know this dish will be the perfect introduction. And if you already love chicken adobo, I’ll hope you’ll take a stab at creating it yourself.  Wishing you all a fantastic holiday season. Remember take in everything about this wonderful time of year.  ‘Tis the season to be merry and bright. ‘Tis the season to eat whatever you want. ‘Tis the season to celebrate family, love, and tradition. ‘Tis the season to slow down.