Lori's Best Brownies

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: In a small saucepan, place sugar, butter and cocoa powder. Stir over med-low heat until butter melts. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Crack eggs into a medium sized bowl and beat lightly. Temper the eggs by adding a few spoonfuls of the butter mixture, stirring constantly so the eggs don't cook. Add the remaining butter mixture to the eggs, stirring to keep eggs from cooking.

Step 4: Stir in the vanilla. Then, follow with the flour, baking powder and salt. Finally, stir in the nuts, if using.

Step 5: Pour into a greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

Note: you can add optional ingredients to the brownies, instead of or in addition to the nuts. I don't do nuts. So, i often add chocolate chips, mini marshmallows. You can also glaze or frost the brownies. I like using an espresso flavored buttercream, or chocolate espresso. Yum! But these are best just plain!!!