My Mum's Brownies

I am going "home" on holidays to visit my Mum soon, and I am really looking forward to it. As the time gets closer, I think about her a lot. Mum turns 60 this year, so I am taking her for a trip to Perth, where she has never been but often talked about visiting.

One of the treats that Mum often made for us as kids was brownies. She obtained the recipe from her friend Gail, and made them often. Mum's brownies are of the cake-like variety rather than fudgy, but they are delicious. There is plenty of debate as to whether or not brownies should contain nuts; these brownies contain walnuts, but can be made just as easily without. They are iced with a simple chocolate glace icing, and when cut into dainty squares, are just perfect with a cup of tea.

To make Mum's brownies, you will need:

60g dark chocolate
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup self raising flour
a pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and grease a 30cm long slice pan.

Melt the chocolate and butter together over a bain marie, and set aside.

Beat the eggs with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar gradually, together wih the vanilla essence. With a spoon, stir in the melted chocolate/butter mixture, then the flour and finally the walnuts until well combined.

Pour the batter into the slice pan and distribute evenly, then place into the preheated oven to bake for approximately 20 minutes. Ice while still warm with a simple glace icing (1 tablespoon cocoa powder, icing sugar, water, and a teaspoon of butter).

Allow the brownies to cool completely in the tin before slicing into squares. Serve and enjoy!