Best Brownies Ever

1 cup butter
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
8 Tablespoons (1/2 cup) cocoa
1 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips, optional

Soften butter.
Add eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, and cocoa.
Mix well.
Fold in flour and chocolate chips.
Pour into 9"x13" pan.
Bake at 325* for 30-35 minutes.

Janice's Brownies

2 cubes margarine (partially melted)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups flour
1 cup nuts (optional)

Blend margarine, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes. Grease 9"x13" pan with margarine then dust with flour. Bake at 360* for 35 minutes. Put on center rack of oven. Don't overcook.
Double recipe to bake in a cookie sheet.

To make Mint Brownies:
Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract to buttercream frosting. Spread thinly on brownies. Put pan of brownies in freezer while making chocolate frosting. Spread chocolate frosting over peppermint frosting. Cut and serve.

* These brownies are famous in our neighborhood and with friends and family, especially the mint ones. You can't eat just one. They are far from diet brownies but after your first bite, you really won't care because they are heavenly!