mmm mmm better brownies

Ky and Kristin's recipe for brownies (allrecipes.com). They say they are better and cheaper than boxed.

½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

½ cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ Teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
2. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.

Kristin says it tastes best with butter. Ky 3x’s this recipe and bakes in a cookie sheet pan.

Sharon's Buttermilk Brownies

2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups flour
4 Tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Sift sugar, flour, and cocoa. Bring the water, butter and oil to a boil. Let cool slightly and then pour over dry ingredients. Whisk until creamy. Mix buttermilk and baking soda together and then mix it in with the batter. Add the eggs and mix. Add the nuts if desired. Pour into a greased and floured 11x17" baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes. While still warm, frost with the following:

Buttermilk Brownie Frosting

Boil:  1 stick butter
         1/4 cup cocoa
         1/3 cup buttermilk
Add:  1 teaspoon vanilla
         1 pound powdered sugar
         dash of salt.