Brownies

There are a couple of recipes that are pretty much burned into my memory.   They're good, they're simple, and I've made them for years, and eaten them for even more years.

These are great hot out of the oven, with ice cream melting on top of them.   They're also quite tasty at room temperature for breakfast.   They're not nearly as dense as some brownies, and the outer edges get a little bit cake-like.  

As well as the English walnuts, I have added one or more of the following at various times:

• 1/4t ground cinnamon
• 1/4t cayenne powder
• 1/4t ground nutmeg
• 1/4 C Black Walnuts + 1/4 C dried sour cherries (instead of the black walnuts)

3/4 C flour
1/2 t baking powder
1 stick + 2 T butter
3 T cocoa
1 C sugar
1/2 t salt (optional)
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 C nuts (optional... English walnuts are great)

Melt butter in a saucepan on low and preheat the oven to 350F.   Meanwhile, mix all the dry ingredients except the walnuts thoroughly.   Once the butter is melted, stir in the wet ingredients until smooth, and then add the walnuts. Pour into 8x8 greased pan. Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes.  Shorter cook times will yield a gooier center.