LJ's Brownies

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

2 eggs

1/4 t. salt

3/4 cup flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. vanilla

Combine sugar & cocoa. Add melted butter & stir well. Stir in egg. Sift together flour, salt, & baking powder & add to batter. Add vanilla, beat until smooth. Fold in nut if you desire.
Spread into buttered 8x8 pan. Bake 350 for 25 minutes.

*I double this & use a 9x13 pan.

I grew up eating these brownies plain. The are chewy/yummy/delicious! We would sometimes spread peanutbutter on them. (individual brownies, not the whole pan) One of us would always say, "Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanutbutter!" To which the other would say, "Hey, you got your peanutbutter in my chocolate." We'd take a bite & proclaim them delicious! (re-enacting the 70's tv commercial for reeses penutbutter cups). LOL

Last evening I also made a small batch of mint icing. Again, to be applied to individual brownies & not the whole pan. 'Cause some folks just love these brownies plain with **nothing** on them.

Mint icing:

2 T. butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T. milk or cream

1/2 t. peppermint extract

green food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.

This icing sets up more once refrigerated for a while.

Best when eaten warm, right out of the oven. But be warned: you may eat more than you mean too. I always do!