answer:I have a favorite brownie recipe that never fails, and is super-easy. They're somewhere in between a fudgey and a cakey brownie, although consistency varies slightly depending on how long you let them bake. They're especially yummy if you use a good chocolate, i usually go for ghirardelli, because it's widely available and not too expensive, but using scharffen berger or lindt or some other high-class chocolate would yeild even richer results. here goes: Brownies: 4 oz unsweetened chocolate 3/4 cup butter (or margarine, but I only ever use butter) 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup nuts or chocolate chips or m&ms; as you wish (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease a 13x9 inch baking pan. Microwave butter and chocolate together in a large bowl until melted, about a minute at a time. Should take about 2 minutes, depending on your microwave. Add sugar, stir until blended. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour and any extras. Spread into the pan and bake, 35 to 40 minutes. I used to always be scared of over-baking brownies, but really, give them at least 30 minutes before checking on them. A toothpick test should yield an almost-clean toothpick, with some sticky crumbs still clinging to it. Baking my brownies for long enough changed them from a gooey (although still yummy) mess, to gorgeous and fudgey brownies that are wonderful warm, with ice cream. Frosting can be added if you wish, but I never bother. yum-yum!