Categories: Cookies, Usenet 
      Yield: 1 dozen 
  
-----------------------------------BATTER----------------------------------- 
      2 oz Chocolate, unsweetened 
           -(2 squares) 
    1/4 lb Butter 
      2 lg Eggs 
      1 c  Sugar 
      1 t  Vanilla extract 
    1/2 c  Flour 
    1/4 t  Salt 
    1/2 c  Nuts, chopped 
           -(walnuts are traditional) 
 
-------------------------------FIRST FROSTING------------------------------- 
  1 1/2 c  Sugar 
    1/3 c  Butter 
    1/2 c  Half-and-half (also 
           -called light cream) 
      1 t  Vanilla extract 
 
------------------------------SECOND FROSTING------------------------------ 
      3 oz Chocolate, unsweetened 
           -(3 squares) 
  
  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Melt about 2 oz of chocolate and the 
  butter in a heavy saucepan, then let it cool. Be careful not to let the 
  chocolate burn. 
   
  Beat the eggs in a large bowl until they are blended.  Add about 1 cup 200 
  g of sugar and mix well. Stir in chocolate-and-butter mixture. Mix until 
  the chocolate is fully incorporated, with no streakiness. Add the vanilla, 
  flour, salt and nuts. Stir just until the flour is incorporated; 
  over-stirring will make a tough brownie. 
   
  Spread the mixture in a greased pan, about 11 x 7 inches, that is about 1 
  1/2 inches deep. Bake in pre-heated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the 
  pan on a rack. While it is cooling, follow these instructions to make the 
  first frosting: 
   
  Mix about 1 1/2 cups sugar, about 1/3 cup butter and about 1/2 cup of 
  half-and-half in a heavy, medium-size saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then cook 
  over moderate heat without stirring until a small amount of the mixture 
  forms a soft ball when dropped in ice water, or it reaches 236 degrees F. 
  on a candy thermometer. 
   
  Remove from heat immediately and cool in a pan of ice-water until the candy 
  is lukewarm. DANGER: melted sugar cools very slowly. You can burn yourself 
  badly by testing it with your finger. 
   
  Add about 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the candy.  Beat it until it is 
  creamy and of a spreading consistency. This is most easily done with an 
  electric mixer, although you can use a heavy wire whip. Spread the frosting 
  over the brownies. 
   
  Melt the remaining 3 oz chocolate and spread over the frosting just put on 
  the brownies. Cover as evenly as possible. Cool for several hours in a 
  refrigerator, then bring to room temperature and cut into pieces to serve. 
   
  Be very careful when melting chocolate.  It burns easily.  A double boiler 
  is probably the best way thing to use. 
   
  It is critical to cook the first frosting to just the right point.  If 
  cooked too little, it will be too thin to beat to a creamy consistency. If 
  cooked too much, it will be too brittle. So keep a close eye on it; sugar 
  tends to cook slowly to the soft-ball stage, then it cooks quickly. 
   
  NOTES: 
   
  *  Very rich brownies with double frosting -- This recipe is for people who 
  like intense chocolate flavor.  The result is a brownie with a fondant 
  frosting, covered with unsweetened chocolate.  They are very rich, with an 
  interesting combination of textures.  This recipe is not for beginners. 
   
  : Difficulty:  difficult. 
  : Time:  a few hours preparation, several hours chilling and then warming 
  : Precision:  measure ingredients carefully. 
   
  : Jeff Lichtman 
  : Relational Technology, Inc., Alameda, California, USA 
  : {amdahl,sun}!rtech!jeff     {ucbvax,decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff 
   
  : Copyright (C) 1986 USENET Community Trust