Brownies

Ingredients
12 Tbsp cocoa
⅔ cup and 4 Tbsp shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions
Heat oven to 350. Grease 13×9 baking pan.
Combine cocoa and melted shortening in large saucepan over low heat until smooth.
Remove from heat.
Mix in sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Spread in pan.
Bake 30 minutes or until brownies start to pull away from sides of pan.
DO NOT OVER BAKE!
Cool slightly.
Cut into bars about 2×1½ inches each.

Variations
For more chocolatey brownies, add an additional cup of chocolate chips.
For more nutty brownies, add an additional cup of nuts.