Brilliant Brownies

Makes about 20 squares

Ingredients

200g (7oz) dark or milk chocolate, depending on your preference
150g (51/2oz) butter
3 free range eggs
375g (13oz) golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbsp cocoa powder
125g (41/2oz) plain flour
200g (7oz) white chocolate, cut into chunks
200g (7oz) raisins, optional

Method 

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line a 25cm (10in) square roasting tin with some greaseproof paper. Break up the dark or milk chocolate and cut the butter into cubes. Melt in a pan on a low heat, stirring frequently. Beat the eggs and sugar together until pale, and mix in the melted chocolate and vanilla essence. Sift in the cocoa and flour, and fold with a metal spoon. Stir in the white chocolate and raisins, if using, and place in the tin and smooth until even. Bake for 30 minutes.