Static Brownies

This recipe came from my great-grandmother, Anna Miles Kirk, a woman whose girth is reputed to have been as substantial and generous as her sense of humor. She took down this recipe off the radio in 1927, calling the delicious chocolate squares Static Brownies. My family has been making them ever since. Genie loves them, of course.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt 2 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate and a stick of butter together over low heat. Remove from heat. Mix in 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar (to taste), 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of sifted flour, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt.

Slick 8x8 square glass pan down with butter, then fill with batter and bake in the oven from 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool, then cut and eat.

For you wild ones: Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts before pouring the batter into the pan.