Picnic Brownies

My sister says these are the best brownies ever! I think they are really good, but the symphony bars are still my favorite. If you are wanting something different, these are definitely worth a try. She got this recipe out of the Lion House cookbook! Yum

- 4 ounces baking chocolate (or 3 T baking cocoa & 1 T veg shortening/oil = 1 oz baking chocolate)
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
-1 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 2/3 cup walnuts, pecans, or almonds, chopped
-1 cup chocolate chips

Grease two 9-inch round pans. In top of double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter. In medium bowl, mix sugar, vanilla, and salt; add to melted chocolate mixture and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and mix well. Divide batter equally into prepared pans. Spread evenly and sprinkle top of each with chopped nuts and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. (Do not overbake.) Allow to cool completely before cutting. Run a think knife between pan and brownies and turn upside down. You may need to shake hard to release brownies from pan. With knife that is longer than brownies are wide, cut brownies by pressing knife straight down through brownies; cut into 8 pie-shaped pieces. Makes 16- 24 brownies.