Mum's Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Hand written recipes. Passed down from generation to generation.
The exact same flavours, textures and appearance experienced by those carrying the same genes, decades apart. There's something exquisite in the thought of family traditions, things enjoyed on repeat-those delightful family classics.
This is one of those family classics. It's mum's brownie recipe, and it's a real winner. I've tried other brownie recipes and I just can't find one quite as nice. It's fudgy, chocolatey and moist-simply delectable. Today my kids are making it and it's being enjoyed my the third generation. I hope it passes to many more!
What's your best family favourite?

MUM'S BROWNIES

1 cup (250g) butter
1 cup cocoa powder
2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp salt


Icing:
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup (60ml) cream 
2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
Walnuts to decorate (optional)

Preheat your oven to 180C.
Melt butter and remove from heat. Stir through the cocoa and brown sugar until combined.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Next, blend in the flour and salt. Spoon the batter into a greased and lined 18x18 square baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

To make the icing, place all the ingredients in a bowl, and whip on high until thick and smooth. Cut the edges off the cooled brownie, then cut into two. Lather one with icing, then place the other half on top and smooth on the remainder. You can use a fork to draw a line pattern in the top, and sprinkle crushed walnuts on the finished product if desired. Cut and serve!

NOTES: You can omit a tablespoon or so of the flour to make for a slightly fudgier brownie. Yum!

Deceitful Slice

Like I previously said, I'm a big fan of wow-factor foods. But I'm doubly impressed when something looks completely ordinary and turns out to have lots of  wow and pow in the mouth. Of course then you can always jazz up the look of these plain-janes, but sometimes, its better to leave them as they are so as not to spoil the flavour or the simplicity of an edible. Its like those rare people you stumble across...the ones who look super ordinary and once you get to know them, their personalities just glow and they become beautiful. If you dolled them up, they wouldn't seem to be the same person, its as if they are somehow changed, not themselves.
Such is life for the family favourite that I am going to share with you. It was the president's favourite slice too...don't ask me what president. This is an older recipe that I dug out of one of Mum's cookbooks during my stay in Melbourne, so it was probably a president from a fair way back. This slice is always quick to disappear at our house, because everyone knows of its yumminess. Mum says she cant take it to parties though, because it looks too ordinary, but for the person who tries it, they will love this fact...the plate will be theirs! You could jazz it up with a drizzle of chocolate if you do want to fancy it up and take it out...if you can bear sharing it. I cant. Greedy me knows that this  moist, deceiving little slice is too good to pass up.  It even covers the fact that I dislike sultanas immensely. Now a recipe that can have a hated ingredient in it and still be totally irresistible is something!

PRESIDENT'S FAVOURITE SLICE

8 oz butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp. golden syrup
2 cups self-raising flour
2 cups dried mixed fruit
2 eggs, beaten

Melt butter and golden syrup in a large saucepan. Add dry ingredients. Add beaten eggs and mix well to combine. Press with a fork into a lined lamington tin and bake in oven at 180C for 20-30 minutes until the top is golden.

NOTES: Honey is a good substitute for golden syrup. You could also substitute mixed fruit for chocolate chips.