• 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter

• 1/2 pound bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
1 Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish.

2 Combine the butter and chocolate in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Stir until smooth. If the chocolate hasn’t completely melted, microwave for another 15 seconds.

3 In a bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Sift over the flour, stir, and stir in the nuts.

4 Spread the mixture in the baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5 Allow to cool for 15 minutes before cutting the brownies and serving.

Makes 8 brownies.

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Excerpted from Kitchen Simple by James Peterson Copyright © 2011 by James Peterson. Excerpted by permission of Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.