Brownies (Chris Gazdik's recipe; she is a friend of my Mom's who my Mom met in Venezuela)

1/2 cup butter
1    cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1    teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
2    eggs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Soften the butter by leaving it out on a counter for a couple of hours or by microwaving it for 10 seconds.  Mix first the sugar, then salt and cocoa powder in with the butter.  Add vanilla and then flour.  Add eggs.  Mix in walnuts.  Rub butter or shortening onto the walls of a 9 X 9" square pan.  Pat the batter into the pan and cook it in a 350oF preheated oven for 25 minutes or until barely done (it's done when the top looks cooked; you can also test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; if it comes up clean, it's done).  If you double the recipe and cook it in a 9 X 12" pan, it will take longer to cook.  Do not over cook (will dry out).