Shortening is a solid fat made from refined vegetable oil that has been partially hydrogenated and whipped. Crisco is one example of a brand name of shortening. I am reposting my recipe for brownies which is the recipe on the back of the Hershey's unsweetened (bitter) baking chocolate package. I think they are fudgey and chewy and not cakelike. I looked for years for a recipe that I was happy with and this is the one! Give them a try. I almost always use liquid pure vanilla extract. Never use the artificial. It tastes terrible. The extra expense of pure vanilla extract is well worth the price. If you make these, let me know how they turned out. Good luck!!

Quick and Easy Fudgey Brownies

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, broken into pieces
3/4 c. butter or margarine
2 c. sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 X 9 X 2-inch baking pan. (If you use glass, lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees F.) In a large microwave-safe bowl, place the chocolate and butter. Microwave at High power 1 1/2 to 2 min or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Add sugar; stir with spoon until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and nuts, if desired; stir until well blended. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 28 to 35 min or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out ALMOST clean. (Usually when brownies have started to pull away from the edges of the pan, they are done). Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares when completely cool. Makes about 24 brownies. Note: A friend of my daughters doubles the recipe so her brownies are extra thick but then you have to play around with the baking time making sure that the brownies don't burn on the bottom.