Fudgie Bars

My mom makes these amazing Fudgie Bars.  She got the recipe from her mom years ago and recently rediscovered it.  She has since made them a few times for family gatherings.  They have quickly become a favorite of mine.  I like helping her to pat the oatmeal cookie crust into the bottom of the pan.  It takes a bit of patience but they are so worth it!  We always make two batches (one with nuts, one without) when we take them places and both versions are very popular.  We like to store them in the fridge, but you don't have to.  Betcha' you can't eat just one!

1 cup butter

2 1/2 cups flour

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

4 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

3 cups quick oats (or pulse old-fashioned oats in a blender)

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 Tbs. butter or margarine

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) (pecans delish!) 

Mix 1 cup butter with half the flour, all the brown sugar, both eggs, 2 tsp. vanilla, and all of the baking soda.  Mix thoroughly, then add rest of the flour and all the oats.  Set aside.

Heat can of sweetened condensed milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and 2 Tbs. butter until melted, then add the other 2 tsp. vanilla and all the nuts.

Crust:  Pat 2/3 of oat mixture in ungreased 15x10x1 pan.  Pour and spread chocolate mixture over the crust and drop/crumble remaining oat mixture the over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until light golden brown.  (Chocolate mixture will still look moist.)  Cool in pan on wire rack and then cut into bars when cool.

Makes about 48-60 bars depending on how you divide the pan.