The Filipino Friends Blog

11+ testing

I know we don’t have this testing here in the US, but in the UK they do have this test for children 11 years old to find out which schools they will go. If you score very high you get to go to a “Grammar” School and if you didn’t score well, you would go to a regular school. In translation to US school system, the grammar school would like a private school while the regular school is like our public school.

I’ve tried to take the test myself to see how I fared…it wasn’t that easy at all and I can understand why its very stressful for both child and parents!!

See if you pass this test – …go to this link – Can You Pass the 11 – plus?

CoCo’s Cafe

I have to share something with all of you that is amazing and its right here in South Carolina! We, or shall I say hubby belongs to the Lowcountry Bloggers and Tweeters (well for people who like to tweet) and we had our get together for this month and it was a treat! One of the members, knows the owner of this restaurant and we had our very own private tasting of french cuisine by the Chef Stephen Ollard, owner of CoCo’s!

It was a great evening and it top if off by the wonderful sampling of different types of cuisine for our pallets with Red or White wine accompanying the food. And to top it off, the dessert…Ohalalalalala… i can taste it while am writing this!

This GEM is located in the Patriots Plaza shopping center where Whole Foods is and its right there in the same side as whole foods, you can’t miss this treasure and urge you to come by and check them out! You won’t be dissatisfied

Recipes ~ Adobos ~

Now, this particular recipe is a staple in any Filipino household…there are many variations of making this dish that I made my own really. My grandmother taught me and my Mom taught me – and each were just slightly different from each other. You could say that I’ve taken my grandmother and mom’s made it my own. I’ve never use any measurements when I cook this and my son loves it every time I make it; usually, I would cook it the day before, somehow it tastes better the next day!

ADOBO – Chicken or Pork (both)

1 whole chicken cut to pieces or Pork cut in cubes
1 whole onions
1 whole garlic (this is per your preference – I love garlic!)
3 bay leaf
Olive Oil or Canola/Vegetable oil
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup soy sauce
salt n pepper
brown sugar – a pinch? – according to how sweet or tangy you like it

Optional:
mushrooms

Be sure to wash the chicken and rinse the pork.

In a large pot saute the onions and garlic’s together until onions clear, add the chicken or pork, salt n pepper cook until tender; add all the liquids and the sugar (this is according how sweet you want it) it should be a bit tangy; (You can add the mushrooms here or wait til almost at the end) Make sure that you have enough liquid that it covers the chicken or pork. Close lid to simmers for about an 25-30 min or up to 1 hr, or chicken or pork is cooked; the liquids (or what’s left of it) you can use it as a gravy.
Serve with rice and some vegetables.