Brownies are desserts that people just love to eat. They contain chocolate, and their magical powers are amazing and comparable to hot rakia. Brownies are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and most illnesses.

Bulgarians of all ages, from children to babas, love brownies. Brownies can make a grumpy old woman change her mood. My fifth class students ate two pans of brownies in about one minute.

These brownies are so good that even slender, Bulgarian women wearing revealing clothing have eaten them. I managed to convince them that a small brownie would not ruin their figures. If thin, Bulgarian women eat brownies, then they must have super magical powers.

Many people have told me that I make the best brownies. What is my secret?

Many people have asked for my recipe, and I always refused them because I considered it to be classified information. The pressure to release this recipe has been overwhelming, so I've decided to declassify it and reveal my secret.

Since there are no brownie mixes in Bulgarian stores, I experimented with the brownie recipe in the Peace Corps cookbook. The recipe was satisfactory, but the brownies always had too much butter for my taste.

Being the mad scientist, I decided to experiment with peanut butter. After three experimental brownie batches, I found a mixture that has a peanut butter taste without overwhelming the brownies with it. With the addition of chocolate chunks, super brownies were created.

Peanut butter may be difficult to find in your town, but there is a Bulgarian company that makes it, and I have found it at the natural health food stores in Varna and Dobrich. If you cannot get peanut butter, try 125g of Nutella (or something similar) and 50g of butter as a substitute. If you are allergic to nuts, use butter as a replacement.

Please remember that the baking times are for my oven, which has been taken over by evil trolls. Your oven baking time may be different, so keep an eye on your brownies and use the toothpick technique that can be used for all cakes. Place a toothpick in the middle of the brownie pan and if it comes out clean, then the brownies are done.

Another method, that is not 100 per cent foolproof, is to look at the sides of the pan. If the brownies have browned edges on the side, then they are done. If you smell burning, then take out the brownies immediately.

Good luck with the super brownies. May all your friends become pigs and devour them in less time than my students. Eat the brownies plain at any meal, or make brownie sundaes with ice cream and the works.

Super Brownies

1 cup or 275g flour
3/4 cup or 175g cocoa powder
3/4 cup or 175g melted butter
3/4 cup or 175g peanut butter
1 1/2 cups or 325g sugar
4 eggs
2 packets vanilla powder
1/2 teaspoon (very small spoonful) of baking powder
1/2 cup of 100g chopped walnuts
100 grams dark or milk chocolate bar, broken into small pieces (optional)

Directions: Preheat oven to 200° C. In a bowl, mix together eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Then add melted butter and peanut butter. Mix well until blended. Add flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder a little at a time until well mixed. Add chopped walnuts and chocolate chunks. Pour batter into a greased 9" by 13"(22.5cm by 32.5cm) baking pan, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until done.

Joseph Herr is a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer currently working in Balchik. His column appears weekly and he can be contacted at jdherr75@sabreshockey.com.