1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a standard loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar, whisking until well combined.
4. Add the eggs one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
6. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if using.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
9. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

As you mix and bake, remember that cooking is about more than just following a recipe—it’s about the memories you create along the way. My daughters, Olivia and Isabella, love to help with the stirring and licking the chocolate-covered spatula, a tradition I fondly recall from my own childhood.