Double the pleasure

Brownies and cookies are midday essentials

Lunch can't be all healthy all the time. Sometimes you need to pack a treat to sweeten someone's day (or your own). At back-to-school time, everyone welcomes a little pick-me-up. Good recipes for brownies and oatmeal-raisin cookies are a must for your lunch-making arsenal.

This one fits the brownie bill. It requires a mixer, unlike some recipes, which are whipped up more quickly in a saucepan. But it's worth the extra trouble for these rich squares, which have a remarkable texture. With cakey edges and fudgy centers, they satisfy both camps of brownie lovers - those who want them gooey, and those who prefer a drier confection.

They're made with squares of both unsweetened and bittersweet chocolate, plus a handful of mini chips. To store the brownies, layer them with waxed paper in an airtight container.