Basic brownies 1

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3⁄4; cup flour

1⁄2; teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Combine chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. When chocolate is almost melted take off heat and continue to stir until smooth. Let cool. Meanwhile grease an 8-inch pan. Transfer the butter-chocolate mixture to a bowl and stir in the sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add flour and vanilla and stir. Stop stirring when flour is all blended in. Pour into pan and bake 20-30 minutes or until set and barely firm in the middle. Cool on rack.

Brownies 2

1 stick butter

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2⁄3; cup flour

1⁄2; teaspoon baking powder

1⁄4; teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1⁄2; cup chopped nuts, optional

Heat oven to 350. Melt butter and chocolate together over low heat, stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth. Let cool. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside. Whisk sugar into the chocolate mixture, then add eggs and vanilla. Fold in flour mixture and nuts until just combined. Pour batter into greased 8-inch square pan and bake about 20 minutes. Test for doneness. Cool brownies completely in pan on a wire rack.