Black Forest Brownies

From: Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke a Hannah Swenson Mystery (Refer to post "forever and always a book worm).
These are so good. I made them for Brandon for a fathers day treat and they are perfect blend. You all need these, you and your children are far too skinny. :)

4 -1 oz squares semi sweet chocolate or 3/4 cup choc chips
3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs - beaten
1 tsp vanilla or if you can find it cherry extract
1 c flour - pack it down
1/2 c pecans (we didn't, of course)
1/2 c. cherries chopped, either chopped maraschino - which we did (side note - I don't like maraschino cherries... who'da thunk???), or dried cherries which Hannah suggests dried bing cherries she also says they make the brownies chewier.
1/2 c chocolate chips


preheat 350
foil a 9 by 13 and spray it with pam.
Microwave butter and chocolate slowly to not burn the chocolate, stirring frequently. Add the sugar (I didn't have a bowl big enough to fit everything and small enough to be in the microwave so I added this mixture to the sugar instead) Let cool for a bit and feel the bowl, you don't want to cook the egg when you add it so wait until it's cool enough before you add them. Mix in vanilla. Mix in flour and stir just until moist. Add pecans, cherries and chocolate chips and stir, spread in pan bake 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, when completely cool pull out foil and place face down on your serving plate peel off foil and either dust with powdered sugar or ice with fudge frosting (this alternative is far superior... :) ) Cut and devour.