Shelly's Recipe

OATMEAL CARMELITAS

Category: Bars

2 cups flour
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter, melted
1 (12 oz) pkg semisweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)
1 (14 oz) pkg caramels
1/3 cup half-and-half

Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add butter, stirring until mixture is crumbly. Reserve half of mixture (about 2 3/4 cups). Press remaining half of mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan. Sprinkle evenly with chocolate morsels, and, if desired, pecans.

Microwave caramels and half-and-half in a microwave-safe bowl at MEDIUM (50% power) 3 minutes. Stir and microwave at MEDIUM 1 to 3 more minutes or until mixture is smooth. Let stand 1 minute. Pour evenly over chocolate morsels. Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.