'Y-IKE-S! IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING ... CHOCOLATE MUD PIE

"Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to it fall."

~ JOSE FELICIANO

~ Afternoon downpour

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CHOCOLATE MUD PIE

~ Don't wail till it rains to enjoy this longtime retro-favorite

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Crust:

1 (8 1/2 oz.) box crushed chocolate wafers

1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Combine crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool.

Fudge Sauce:

1/2 cup cocoa

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup whipping cream

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine cocoa, sugar, cream and butter in 2 quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat until smooth and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool completely.

Filling and Topping:

1 quart good coffee ice cream (softened)

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 Tbsp. powered sugar

1 Tbsp. Kahlua

cocoa

1/4 cup toasted silvered almonds

• Spread 1/2 cup Fudge Sauce evenly over baked cooled baked cookie crust. Top with softened ice cream. Spread evenly over crust. Top with remaining Fudge Sauce and chill several hours.
• Whip cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Add Kahlua and whip until stiff peaks form. Spread evenly over frozen pie. Dust with cocoa and top with toasted almonds. Freeze until ready to serve.
  

~ September garden in the rain

"Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to it fall.

It's raining,

It's pouring,

The old man is snoring,

Went to bed

And bumped his head,

He couldn't get up in the morning,

Listen to the falling rain,

Listen to the rain."

(Thank you Jose for this wonderful song that rang continually though my head while photographing and posting.)