Barb Schaller's Famous Orgasmic Chocolate Brownies

Move oven rack to center and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13" metal baking pan with parchment paper.

In microwave oven, on medium-high power, melt butter and chocolate in 2-quart microwave-safe bowl, about 3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Mix in granulated sugar, then beat in eggs, one at a time, with wire whisk.

Mix in vanilla and almond. Stir in nuts, if using them. Combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt and fold into chocolate. Spread batter in 9x13" pan lined with baking parchment and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 33-35 minutes. Do not overbake; toothpick may have fudgy crumbs on it, but not wet batter.

Cool pan on wire rack for 15 minutes before removing (if you wish) brownies from pan.

Cook's Notes: Please, keep the moaning down; it annoys the neighbors. I use the baking parchment so the whole can be removed from the pan for easy transport to a lucky recipient. May want to support the bottom with cardboard if you do that.

First Place, Plain Brownies, 1997 and 2002 Minnesota State Fairs. Adapted from recipe in Cook's Illustrated magazine, March/April 1994. Please note that I do use real chocolate, unsalted butter, and cake flour. If you do not, don't complain to me about it.