Friday, November 13, 2020

Kalimotxo for Ate Coco

There was - at one point - at least four Emma Gavino's in the state of Washington.  I was one of them but I was far from the most coordinated (that was Ate Miemme) or the most outgoing (that was Ate Chillette).  Though she was six years older than I was, Ate Coco was the newest Emma, since her family moved to Seattle from the Philippines and I couldn't have been more thrilled.  I was still a very lonely only child and she and Kuya Joel would be forced to be my friends (i.e. their parents made them babysit me).  

Even as a 12 year old, Emma Victoria Gavino was wise beyond her years - smart, graceful, kind, responsible and ridiculously too patient with my tiresome 6 year old self. I'd always wanted an older sister, and having her roll her eyes and laugh at me all summer, it felt like I finally had one. 

I honestly don't know if she was given her nick name in The Philippines or once she got to The States, but I do know it had something to do with Coca Cola.  

So I made a Coca Cola Cocoa Red Wine cake in memory of this incredible woman, wife, daughter, mother, friend, cousin, sister, superhuman who meant so much to so many of us and who was taken from us far too soon.  

  

Recipe #19: Kalimotxo Chocolate Cake

Choice of Libation:  She liked mezcal and I had been looking forward to enjoying some with her after this hellish year.  So proper a toast to her was important today.



Puntagave Rustico Mezcal.  Smooth and smoky with a little bit of pepper and cedar.  I usually do a twist of orange, but honestly this one just needs a little air and some ice.  

Choice of Music: Repeat Offender by Richard Marx, I know, I KNOW but hear me out....

It was my birthday and Ate Coco said as a present, she would help me call into the local radio station to ask them to play any song I wanted to hear. The idea of having that amount of control, to be able to curate a moment and share it with the entire Pacific Northwest (as a 7 year old I assumed everyone listened to the same radio station at all times) and to maybe even hear my own voice broadcasted on the airwaves was thrilling.   I took this decision very seriously, weighing all the suggestions that Ate Coco and Kuya Joel recommended, Bobby Brown, Prince, De La Soul, all great choices.  To this day I have no idea why I knew who Richard Marx was or where on earth I would have heard this song (at home I was still only allowed to listen to Christian music and some musicals), I enthusiastically proclaimed, "I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR RIGHT HERE WAITING!!!!" Like that one box that popped up back when people still bought songs on iTunes, Ate Coco cocked her head to the side and said "Are you sure you want to listen to Richard Marx?"  


I ran around the house, turning all the radios up to full volume to KUBE 93FM while Ate Coco held the phone to her ear, on hold forever.  Finally Kuya Joel called "We're on!" and I ran down the stairs squealing until I was hushed by my older sibling-cousins.  With the regality of a royal, Ate Coco declared, "We would like to hear Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx," then turned to me and said, "They're gonna play it now! Happy birthday!" I rushed to the radio and eagerly waited to hear the rest of their conversation and the beginning of the song on air...but it was just a really long R.E.M song.  Then The Cure.  Then Dino.  But never Ate Coco and never Richard Marx.  

BECAUSE I STUPIDLY TURNED THE DIAL TO KPLZ NOT KUBE AND WE MISSED MY SONG.

I was crushed.  But I'm pretty sure Ate Coco let me have cake. So.  Win win.

With the exception of the Mexican Coca Cola (definitely better in a kalimotxo than normal Coke) and  buttermilk, this is definitely a pantry staple cake.  

Obligatory caffeine and booze pour photo


Grandma Emjoy doesn't know how to make this photo right size up. 
Also.  What does one do with extra buttermilk? Asking for a Me.


For some reason, this recipe made one ugly cake and exactly 9 ugly cupcakes.

The best part was the sponge bath with the coca cola/red wine/chocolate/butter glaze,
she typed unironically.


When Coco is part of your life, you can't beat the feeling.


Stolen and heavily adapted from tasteofhome.com

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup Mexican Coca Cola (or whatever cola you can find)
1/4 cup red wine (I used Carmenere)
1 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup baking cocoa
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used more cola)

GLAZE:
1/4 cup cola
1/4 cup red wine
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup baking cocoa
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan. (I used a cake pan and muffin tin)
In a large bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine cola, wine, butter and cocoa; bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until blended; add to flour mixture, whisking constantly.
Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
About 15 minutes before cake is done, prepare glaze. In a small saucepan, bring cola to a boil; cook 12-15 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in butter and cocoa until butter is melted; remove from heat. Add confectioners' sugar; stir until smooth. Pour immediately over hot cake.