Luana's Rocky Road Brownies

• 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 eggs

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 1/4 cup flour

• 1 tsp. baking powder (scant)

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/2 cup (or more) coarsely chopped pecans or other nuts (optional)

• About half a bag of mini marshmallows

Melt chocolate and butter or margarine together.  Stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt.  Spread in a greased 9X13 pan and scatter nuts (if using) over top.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes--until edges just start to pull away from sides of pan.  Remove from oven and cover top with marshmallows--try to spread them so they're in a single layer.  Return to oven for 1-2 minutes until marshmallows just start to melt and puff up.  Do not let marshmallows brown.  Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING:  

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• Dash salt

• 1/2 cup milk

Combine all ingredients and mix until blended, adding just enough milk to produce a soft spreading consistency.  Beat until light and fluffy--about 5 minutes.  Spread over cooled brownies.

VARIATION:

Make about half the amount of frosting, thinning it to a drizzling consistency.  Drizzle across top of brownies in a diagonal pattern.  Allow to set before cutting.