Brownies, an American classic

As we continue with the chocolate recipes to celebrate Valentine's Day, any chocolate lover will attest to one of the best cookies (next to the classic Toll House cookie) is the brownie. There are scores of good brownie recipes and everyone has their favorite type of brownie. Some like them with nuts while others don't. Some enjoy a cake-like brownie, whereas some declare that the chewy version is the absolute best. And there are those that like them iced and those that take them plain. There's really no wrong way to prepare a brownie, but a key necessity is to have plenty of cold milk to go along with them!

The recipe I'm passing along is for "Iced Brownies". These are some of the best brownies I've had and they are more on the cake-like side. I first got this recipe one Christmas many years ago when I was a beginning cook and they are indeed great. This recipe makes a 9x13 inch pan of them and are iced with a simple chocolate buttercream icing. This recipe calls for nuts, which can be either walnuts, pecans or even black walnuts, if you like them. If you would rather omit them completely, feel free.

Some people like their brownies warm from the oven. Since this brownie is iced immediately as they come from the oven, they really need to cool at least until barely warm in order for them to cut neatly (if you can wait that long!) Some sources I've seen state that brownies should rest overnight prior to cutting at all. That may be a better idea, but it may be next to impossible for a brownie lover to avoid the temptation!

One great thing about this recipe is that it uses baking cocoa rather than squares of unsweetened chocolate. This saves you from having to do any melting and being concerned about scorching it, which is easy to do. These brownies also freeze well, if well wrapped.

While we discussing chocolate, sometime back, I passed along a "Chocolate Fudge Pudding Cake" that is made in the microwave. Here's the link to it, in case don't already have it:

http://www.examiner.com/article/cure-your-chocolate-fix-the-microwave

If you've been looking for a great brownie recipe, give this one a try to share this Valentine's Day!

ICED BROWNIES

Brownies:

• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• a pinch of salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Cream together the shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add the cocoa and the salt. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat completely as they are added. Alternately add the flour with the milk. Stir in the vanilla extract along with the nuts. Turn into a greased 9x13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes or until firm in the center, being careful not to overbake. Top with the following icing as soon as they brownies come from the oven:

Icing:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 lb. confectioner's sugar
• a pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 3 to 4 tablespoons evaporated milk (more if needed)

Cream all ingredients together until smooth in a large bowl. Spread over hot brownies and let cool. Cut into desired size and store covered.