Dreamy Fudge Brownies

I wish I could preface these fabulous brownies with some clever little personal anecdote or insight, but that seems unfair. You know, to the brownies.

Kind of like that amazing concert in the park that I went to on the fourth of July, that was, unfortunately, opened by some local Elvis impersonator in his fifties, who was sadly unlike Elvis in both looks and singing ability, although I'm sure he's a very nice man.

Aside from a few baby boomers who were wildly enthusiastic about having "Elvis" opening the concert, the crowd was not at all happy about having to sit through all of his renditions of all the songs Elvis ever sang or thought about singing. Why? Because we really came to hear this group of wonderfully talented musicians and singers whose CDs we all owned. And we had to wait and listen to this other Elvis guy first.

And you came to find these perfectly dreamy brownies. Sorry I made you wait, inadvertently sharing my little personal Elvis anecdote. I'm done.

These brownies are about as basic and simple as you can get. But in my little humble opinion, there is beauty in simplicity. So, so so much beauty.

You know what else is in simplicity? Divine moistness and density, that slightly cracked layer on top, and a perfectly glorious chocolate flavor that you'd sell your grandmother for. You think I'm joking.

Dreamy Fudge Brownies

adapted from BHG New Cookbook

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

In a medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat lightly by hand just till combined. Stir in flour and nuts.

Spread batter into a greased 8x8x2-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Just kidding, don't ever sell your grandmother. Please. Ever.