What does a potluck dinner look like when my Filipino friends gather? Well, the sure-thing offerings are eggrolls, chow mein (though we call them "lumpia" and "pancit," respectively) and, of course, chicken adobo -- adobo being the Filipino style of cooking of meats, chicken and vegetables with vinegars and often soy sauce and garlic.

If you're creating your own mini-Filipino dinner at home, you can simplify the preparation by picking up eggrolls and chow mein from a take-out restaurant. But try my "lightened" chicken adobo for the heart of this meal.

Rather than using a whole chicken cut into pieces and lightly fried in oil, I prefer skinless, boneless chicken breasts with coconut milk and anise-flavored Thai basil. This is much more healthful. Additionally, rather than serving it over rice, the chicken adobo can be served atop romaine lettuce making for an even lighter dish.

Then seal the meal with a creamy fruit salad with lemon creme fraiche -- another Filipino potluck mainstay. It's ambrosia and cheesecake flavors rolled into one -- and very easy to make.

1/4 cup Thai basil leaves, available in Asian markets or su
... read the whole article