Blondies

1 cup butter, melted

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla or 1 teaspoon almond extract

Pinch salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions: Butter a 13 x 9 pan. Mix melted butter with brown sugar - beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla. Add salt, stir in flour. Mix in any additions (below).

Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle. I always err on the side of caution with baking times — nobody ever complained about a gooey-middle cookie. Cool on rack before cutting them.

Further additions; use one or a combination of:
1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, toasting them first for even better flavor
1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon mint extract in addition to or in place of the vanilla
1/2 cup mashed bananas
Stir 1/2 cup dried fruit, especially dried cherries, into the prepared batter
Top with a vanilla butter cream or chocolate peanut butter cream frosting