Fudgy Brownies

1/2 c. butter
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chopped almonds or pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a medium saucepan melt butter and unsweetend chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool.

2. Grease an 8x8x2" or 9x9x2" baking pan; set aside. Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon just until combined. Stir in the vanilla.

3. In a small mixing bowl stir together the flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; stir just until combined. If desired, stir in nutes. Spread the batter into prepared pan.

4. Bake for 30 min. for 8" or 25 minutes for 9". Cool in pan on a wire rack.