Carmelitas

CARMELITAS--Makes 24 bars

From Aunt Katie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C old fashioned oats

1 3/4 C AP flour

1 1/8 C firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda 

2.5 sticks (20 Tbsp) butter, melted

1 pounds caramels 

4 Tbsp half and half

12 oz semi sweet mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add melted butter, mix well. Divide oatmeal mixture in half. Press half of the dough into an uncreased 9x13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes, until light golden brown.

While baking, melt the caramels and half and half in microwave on hight at 1 minute intervals, stirring between until smooth and creamy. Set 1/3 of the caramel mixture aside. Pour remaining caramel mix over the baked oatmeal crust. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Crumble the remaining oat mixture on top and drizzle with the reserved caramel.

Bake 10-12 more minutes until light golden brown. Cool completely before slicing.