The Best Brownie Ever

Okay, so you've already had it. The best one ever put into your mouth, one which you savored every bite and morsel, one that you exclaim to be the new standard from now on and one you wish was credited to your own baking skills. Turns out, this recipe has been around for a long time and published many times, in newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Hey, I said it was the best one ever, aren’t you listening?

My neighborhood is interesting to say the least but what I love about it is that is so rich in traditions – like never return a dish empty or never receive a gift without giving back. Last week, it seems we had an over abundance of shelled pecans. We gave a bag to our good neighbor Marilyn Higgs and thought nothing of it. And then, she called last night and told us she was bringing over some brownies with the pecans we had given to her. After the first bite, still warm and creamy, that’s when I said it, "it's the best one ever". Seems the recipe was printed many years ago in a magazine and as the story goes, Katharine Hepburn whipped these up when reporters came for interviews. She wanted the rooms filled with the sweet aroma of homemade chocolate bliss. It does just that and like I said - are you listening ... it is the best brownie I have ever had. Enjoy!

Katharine Hepburn’s Brownies

2 squares (2 oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Add butter and chocolate in a small saucepan and stir on low heat (or use a double boiler) to melt. Do not let the butter get hot enough to bubble.

Mix the sugar and eggs in a bowl using a wire whisk. Fold in the chocolate mixture. Stir in the vanilla. Sift in the dry ingredients and fold in the nuts.

Bake in a floured 8x8-inch pan for about 40 minutes. Remove and let cool. Cut while a little warm.