Valentine's Day Brownies

Here's an easy way to turn something ordinary into something special for your kids: cut brownies into heart shapes! You could use a brownie mix if you are so inclined, but I made homemade ones with this quick recipe.  I made half the recipe in a mini heart shaped cupcake pan, and the other half in an eight inch square pan and just cut out small hearts. 

Quick Homemade Brownies

1 stick butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 325.  Melt butter with unsweetened chocolate in a saucepan over low heat.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla, then stir until well combined.  Stir in flour and salt until just combined.  Pour batter into greased and floured 8 inch square baking pan. Bake for about 35-40 minutes.  Or use mini heart shaped cupcake pan and bake for about 25 minutes.