Lovin' From My Oven #1: Best Basic Brownies ..... Its where it all began.

I love to bake. I bake when I'm happy, bake when I'm sad, bake to bring comfort, bake for a smile. I call it Lovin' From My Oven <3 There isn't any place better for me to start sharing the love of yum with you than with the bakers basic first food group: Chocolate.

Years ago I was really desperate for money and needing to make a quick sustainable buck. I had four young kids (now seven!) and working outside the home just wasn't an option. Money being as tight as it was risking any of it in some unknown venture just simply wasn't going to happen so I looked around and assessed the skills I had and paired it with my available resources and viola! Nonnas House Baking Co. was born. Never mind I was baking away in my old as the hills run down trailer in the middle of the big woods of northern Minnesota(sooooo thankful times have changed *shivers*), I figured who eats more than a lumberjack, right? So I threw myself elbows deep in flour while throwing the dice. And besides wasn't there some such saying in my favor about love and men and the way to it was through their stomachs? It had to be a winner and so I did what I do..... I baked.

I began with homemade pies and soon became known as "The pie lady" (a title I still carry around this neck o da woods) and from that I branched out with other baked goods. Cakes, pies, every kind of cookie, home baked breads and the like. These brownies were among my best sellers and from them it seemed a bajillion other baked goods were born. I hope you enjoy their simple super moist chocolaty goodness.... from my oven, to yours <3 This recipe needs no mixer and is a snap to whip up by hand. Lets get started :)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cups coco
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup flour
1 cup walnuts (optional) *added in last, I did not today*

Set oven to 350*F and grease a 9x13 pan.

Next melt the butter completely on the stove top or use a microwave oven (be careful if using microwave to keep an eye on it as butter can go crazy quickly).




Grab a mixing bowl and pour in your 2 cups of sugar and the melted butter....mix it well. Crack the four eggs in the bowl and give the yolks a poke to get them started and make mixing them in a breeze.




















Add in the baking powder, salt and vanilla.......























Next add in your 2/3 cup coco and mix carefully until well incorporated.... coco can puff all over if you beat it too fast, so take it slow n easy ;)











Lastly add in the 1 cup of flour and beat by hand until mixed but not over worked. With an electric mixer this is about 20 sec, by hand about 40 beats.

Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until middle no longer jiggles and sides just gently begin to pull from the pan.....

Cool completely, cut and enjoy :)

Watch for more recipes using this basic brownie in a bunch a sweet new ways ......