Initial Thought

In closing, this task provided me with more than simply learning how to cook a dish. Before, I hadn’t really thought about my grandmothers cooking in the ways I was while learning from her. I felt like I became closer with her because I had never really done anything like this. I usually don’t get to see my grandmother unless the entire family is also there so it was nice to be able to talk to her more 1 on 1 than I usually and learn some new things about my family and how much she enjoys cooking for her family. The little things won’t go unnoticed or unacknowledged anymore. I appreciate her for spending some time with me during the break and giving me something that I can now share with my own future family.

Learning how to cook a dish from my grandmother is a simple task and it was very comforting. We made it on Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving and she was happy to have me there. At our Thanksgiving, we have all the typical foods and sides but she always makes chicken adobo for it and it is still a hit. To be able to have this special dish and others that makes our family’s Thanksgiving different from others is awesome. I cherish my family and culture, and not being like all the rest. We eat on Thanksgiving pretty early at around 12, and it is always a buffet style and not a sit down meal. Our family is too big to be able to sit everyone at one table. Cooking with my grandmother made me realize more how I value everything she does for our family, not just with cooking but with all the little things to go along with it.

I asked my grandmother how important cooking in general and especially this dish is to her. She said she really enjoys cooking and loves to make food for all her grandchildren. She likes making this dish because it is easy and everyone likes it, whereas some of the other filipino food is not as popular with the grandchildren. She also will make whatever food that person likes and give it to them. For me growing up, I was sometimes home alone for a few days during the week and she would come and bring me hot dogs and tacos that she made because she knew that I was a pretty picky eater and those foods I liked. She said she enjoys being able to make whatever for whoever and wants them to be happy. A common thing that she does is she will make food and drop it off and on the Tupperware she will write in sharpie what exactly is inside. Me and all my cousins think this is funny but it shows how thoughtful she is and how much she cares.

Whenever my dad makes chicken adobo, it tastes just a little different than when my grandmother makes it. I asked her why this might be and why no matter what, my dad can’t make it taste quite the same. She actually doesn’t use any measurements when she makes the dish. Once you cook the chicken in the pan, you add water, soy sauce, and vinegar, along with garlic powder and pepper. That is all. She eyeballs all her measurements and said that since she’s been making it for so long so she knows how much soy sauce and vinegar to add to make the perfect ratio of flavors. For water she just fills a drinking glass and adds that to the pan. It was cool to see how she knew exactly how much to put in and didn’t have to change anything or add any more than what she already added. You could tell she makes this all the time and it’s natural and engraved into her memory.

I realized as we were getting ready to make the dish that I have never actually seen her make it before. I didn’t even know exactly what all was in it and how it is prepared. When she makes chicken adobo, she always pairs it with white rice. I’ve made rice in a rice cooker before. Actually going through and making the adobo was interesting to me because for some reason I’ve never seen it made and to make it myself with help from my grandmother was special for me. Making it with my grandmother was special because she’s made this dish for me and my cousins our whole lives but she makes it in big batches and has it already prepared when we go over there. This dish is always around whenever there is a family get-together.

I asked my grandma about when she first made this dish and how long she has been making it. She has been making it since when my aunts and uncles and dad were kids and has been one of her favorite things to cook. I asked her if she made any personal changes to the traditional recipe to make it her own. She said there isn’t much to change but she likes to use boneless chicken instead of the traditional bone-in chicken because it’s easier and so that the kids don’t have to deal with the bones. I appreciate this because I prefer boneless as well. She said all of her kids know how to make it too, since it is a pretty simple dish to make. However, she acknowledged that they can’t make it as good as she can, which from my judgement is true.

Bio of my Coach

My grandmother was born in the Philippines but has been a U.S. citizen since she was very young. She met my grandfather in the Philippines and they had 6 children before moving to the United States. They all started a new life here and it was a big change. They first lived in Virginia before eventually moving to PA. As her children grew into adults and had kids of their own, soon the family had grown into a very big group. Her 6 children eventually had given her 17 grandchildren. Since all the families and my grandparents lived in the same town, my grandmother would take care of the kids when the parents couldn’t all the time. She was like a second mother to all the grandchildren and was very loving.