Chocolate Brownie Mix

Preparation : Combine dry ingredients and cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles corn meal (it may be moist and somewhat gummy). Store in container with tight-fitting lid. Makes approximately 10 cups, sufficient for 4 pans of Brownies. To prepare chewy Chocolate Brownies Measure approximately 2 1/2 cups Chocolate Brownie Mix into a bowl. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract (mixture will be somewhat grainy). Add nuts and mix well (mixture will become smooth). Spread evenly in a 8x8 inch, greased pan. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 20 minutes. Center should appear slightly underdone; for more cake-like Brownies, bake an additional 5 minutes. Variations: Substitute 1/2 cup peanut butter chips for nuts OR add 1/2 cup of raisins OR 1/2 cup of chopped dates OR 1/2 cup shredded coconut OR 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to basic Chocolate Brownies.