Fudgy Oatmeal Bars

So this one was not my favorite recipe, but I'm also not the biggest fan of chocolate desserts unless it's in solid chocolate form. I mean, growing up so close to Hershey, it's not really possible to resist the Great American Chocolate Bar (remember that part of the song?). Anyway, when Jim and I were trying to decide on a dessert one night, he kept shooting down all my deliciously fruity and sweet suggestions. Eventually I gave in and agreed on these (because who can really go without dessert on a Saturday night).

His mom used to make these for him and as everyone knows, mom's cooking/baking can never be beat, so I'm not really sure how satisfied he was with these, but I was a happy girl. These bars are sweet and chocolatey and have just the right amount of texture from the oats, but boy are they rich. If you make these, be sure you have lots of friends to share them with because one little bar will be plenty to satisfy even the biggest craving.

Fudgy Oatmeal Bars

2c packed brown sugar

1c softened butter

2 eggs

1t vanilla extract

2.5c all-purpose flour

1t baking soda

1/2t salt

3c oats

12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

14oz sweetened condensed milk

2T butter

1t vanilla extract

1/2t salt

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a large rectangular pan.

Mix brown sugar, 1c butter, eggs, and 1t vanilla in a large bowl.

Stir in flour, baking soda, and 1/2t salt, then stir in oats.

Reserve about 1/3 of the oatmeal mixture. Press the remaining mixture into the pan.

Heat chocolate chips, milk, and 2T butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate chips are melted.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1t vanilla and 1/2t salt.

Spread the chocolate mixture over the oats mixture in the pan.

Drop the reserved oats mixture by rounded teaspoons on top of the chocolate mixture.

Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.

Cut into bars while still warm (but not hot).