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1
Crust:.
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2
Preheat oven to 350. Combine the flour, salt and brown sugar. With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter.
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3
Stir in the chocolate and nuts. Mix the vanilla and water and add to the crumbs.
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4
Work the mixture with your hands to combine. With floured fingers, push the mixture into a 9 inch pie plate, covering the bottom, sides and rim. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely.
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5
Filling:.
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6
In an electric mixer, cream the butter till fluffy and smooth. Add the sugar, coffee and vanilla and beat till smooth. Add the melted chocolate. Again beat smooth.
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7
Add the eggs one by one, beating for several minutes after each addition.
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8
(NOTE: If you prefer to cook the eggs first, mix them with 1/4 cup milk and heat over medium low heat, till the mixture thickens and bubbles a bit, and coats a spoon -reaching a temperature of 160. Cool and add to the chocolate mixture.).
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9
Spread the mixture into the pie crust. Chill several hours. (At this point, the pie can be wrapped and frozen. Defrost in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours.).
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10
Topping:.
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11
Just before serving, whip together the cream, coffee, powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla till stiff enough to hold a shape. Cover the top of the pie and top with grated chocolate, if desired.
