Down Home Classic Brownies

Prep Time : ... 30 minutes ...Cooking time : 35 minutes ..Makes twenty-four 2 -1/4-inch squares

5 ...................squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate , coarsely chopped

1 - 1/3 ............cups unsifted all-purpose flour

1 ....................teaspoon baking powder

1/2 .................teasspoon salt

3/4 .................cup (1 -1/2 sticks) butter or margarine , softened

1 -1/2 .............cups sugar

4 ....................eggs

2 ....................teaspoons vanilla extract

2 ....................cups corsely chopped walnuts or pecans

1) Preheat the oven to 350*F . Line a 13"x9"x2" baking pan with foil . Lightly grease and flour and set aside .

2) In a small heavy saucepan over lowest heat , melt chocolate , stirring occasionally . Set aside to cool .

3) On a sheet of was paper , combine flour , baking powder and salt .

4) In a large bowl of an electric mixer , cream butter at medium speed for 2 minutes . Add sugar and continue to cream for 2 minutes . Beat in eggs 1 at a time , beating well after each addition . Add vanilla and cooled chocolate . By hand , mix in dry ingredients , then stir in nuts .

5) Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean ... about 35 minutes . Transfer to a rack to cool before cutting .