REAL Brownies!

[Twitchin Kitten]

I've been poked and prodded for a good brownie recipe so here it is.
The recipe isn't anything special, but one my mom used to make from a very old cookbook of hers.
The trick with brownies is you need to make sure your oven is holding the temperature exactly and do NOT take them out too soon or too late.
Also, brownies, unlike a regular cake, WILL NOT show clean on a toothpick inserted, so this goes back to making sure your oven temps are good! And why we put them in 'bar cookie' category and not cakes

Brownies

yield: about 32 brownies

ingredients:

• 4oz unsweetened chocolate
  
• 2/3 cup shortening (butter or Crisco. I like butter)
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• 4 eggs
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour*
  
• 1 tsp. baking powder
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (or any other nut you like. hazelnuts are divine)
  

*if using self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt
*DO NOT use an electric mixer. Stir and mix all ingredients for brownies by hand.

Heat oven to 350º F
Grease a baking pan that measures 13"x9"x2".
Melt chocolate and shortening in a double boiler (to prevent scalding)
Remove from heat.
Mix in sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl then add the melted chocolate and shortening.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Spread in the pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until you see the brownies start to "pull away" from the sides of the pan. DO NOT OVER-BAKE.
Cool slightly.
Cut into bars about 2"x1 1/2".

If desired, spread with Glossy Chocolate Frosting before cutting.