Brownies from scratch

I made some brownies last weekend for my husband's birthday. We have two birthdays within two days of each other--husband and our son--so, it makes September a little busy!

This is a favorite recipe in our family. My mom got it a long time ago from a neighbor....I love it because it's easy and it uses just one pot and a pan. Quick clean-up! Plus...I like easy from-scratch recipes. Baking from scratch is not all that hard and I think of it as a bit of a lost art.
First, melt the butter with the brown sugar and vanilla...then eggs.

 Then you add the dry ingredients.

Mix it up, baby!

 In the meantime, the pan has to be buttered.

Because the mixture is warm, the chocolate chips melt fairly quickly when added.

 Pour into the pan....and bake.

Our Favorite Brownies
3/4c flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2c butter
1c brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 6oz package chocolate chips

Melt butter and brown sugar in large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Beat in eggs and add vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, baking powder and chocolate chips. They should melt quite a bit, as the mixture is warm. Pour into buttered 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Frost when cool.

Although I skipped the frosting so we could make brownie sundaes--vanilla ice cream with choice of strawberries and chocolate sauce or ice cream with caramel sauce--the frosting for these brownies are TDF.

Frosting
1/3c soft butter
1/2c brown sugar
1T cream
1/4c powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

And....if the brown sugar-y frosting isn't your taste, try a cream cheese frosting....can you tell I have a frosting problem?

Leah's Cream Cheese Frosting
16oz powdered sugar
1 8oz block of cream cheese
1 stick butter

Yum....and enjoy!

May link to these parties....
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life
Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Sunday Shake-up at Jacque's Soda Parlor