What's a girl to do???

We all know there are certain days when a girl's just GOT to take a headlong dive into a vat of warm chocolate have some chocolate. This doesn't hit me very often, but every few months I've GOT to have something ridiculously rich and chocolatey and full of all the stuff this blog isn't supposed to be about. I'd like to say I never succumb, but why lie? I truly do aspire to be as disciplined in my diet as my dear sis-in-law Anne, but I'm not all the way there, yet. Yet! I will, however, keep trying to take steps in the right direction, while realizing that every once in a while I might find myself sliding back into fantasies of secretly living in a hidden cave next to the chocolate river in Willy Wonka's factory, where I can sneak out at night, lean over the bank, and drink til my stomach explodes needing a little treat. These little babies did the trick this time.

Yeah, Baby!! Brownies
3/4 C. butter
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1-1/2 C. pure cane sugar
pinch of salt
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 C. + 2 Tbs. flour
1/2 C. chopped nuts

Frosting:
1/4 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. shortening
pinch of salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. baking cocoa
1 lb. powdered sugar
2-4 Tbs. milk or cream

For Brownies:
Preheat oven to 350. In microwavable bowl melt butter and chocolate. (Microwave for 1-1/2 minutes, stir, then cook 30-60 more seconds.) Whisk in salt, vanilla and sugar. Cook for 2 more minutes. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in the flour and nuts and blend well. Pour into a lightly greased 11x7" or 8x8" pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. The sides will be slightly pulled away from the edges of the pan. Cool completely on a rack before frosting. (In chocolate emergencies this only takes about 10 minutes on the balcony in 35 degree weather! ;))

For Frosting:
Beat everything together in a stand mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue beating on medium-high for 10-15 minutes. Let the mixer beat the frosting to a light, airy, silken texture before stopping. Add a little more powdered sugar if it's too thin, or milk if it's too thick.