Brownies

Makes About 1 dozen
Time: 30 to 40 minutes

So easy children can make them. In fact, my kids taught me two things about making brownies. One, they're better without nuts (obviously a matter of taste). Two, if you line the baking pan with lightly greased aluminum foil, you reduce cleanup time by 50 percent-not bad. These are chewy and dense, dominated by chocolate.

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus a little softened butter for the pan
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with butter or line it with aluminumfoil and grease the foil.

2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat, stirring occasionally. When the chocolate is just about melted, remove from the heat and continue to stir until the mixture is smooth.

3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the sugar. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time. Gently stir in the flour, salt, and vanilla. Pour and scrape into the prepared pan and bake until just barely set in the middle, 20 to 25 minutes. It's better to underbake brownies than to overbake them. Cool on a rack before cutting. Store, covered, at room temperature, for no more than a day.

Hazelnut Brownies.

Almonds or walnuts work equally well: Substitute 1/4 cup finely ground hazelnuts for half the flour and add 1 cup lightly toasted, roughly chopped hazelnuts.

Cream Cheese Brownies.

Beat together 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy; beat in an egg. In Step 3, put half the brownie batter into the pan and top with the cream cheese mixture; then finish with the remaining batter. Use a knife to swirl the cream cheese into the brownies if you like. Increase the baking time by 10 minutes or so.

8 Simple Ideas for Brownies

1. Add 1/4 cup peanut butter or 1/2 to 1 cup chopped toasted nuts to the batter.

2. Add 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chunks to the batter.

3. Use 1/2 teaspoon almond or mint extract in addition to or in place of the vanilla.

4. Add 1/2 cup mashed banana to the batter.

5. Add 1/4 cup bourbon, Scotch, or other whiskey to the batter; increase the flour by 1 tablespoon.

6. Add 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder with the vanilla.

7. Stir 1/2 cup dried fruit, especially dried cherries, into the prepared batter.

8. Frost the cooled brownies with vanilla buttercream frosting or chocolate buttercream frosting before cutting.