Chewy Chocolate Cookies

1-1/4 cups butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped nuts, optional

    Heat oven to 350ºF (175ºC).  Cream butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Blend well.  Combine flour, baking cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Blend into creamed mixture.  Stir in nuts, if desired.  Drop by tsp. onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake 8 - 9 minutes.  Do not overbake.  Cookies will be soft.  They will puff during baking, then flatten upon cooling.  Cool on cookie sheets until set, about 1 minute.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.  Makes about 42,