Everybody should have a neighbor like Shirley Larson.  She is the Pulse of our little neighborhood.  So, I wasn’t expecting her to also be a great cook!  Apparently Shirley’s mother taught her the same thing my mother taught me, to never return a jar or bowl that someone has given to you empty.  So when I gave some salsa to the Larsons, she returned my little jar with these wonderful little squares.  You can literally taste the butter…..thanks a lot, Shirley, for the extra 3 pounds!!

OATMEAL CARAMELITAS

Melt 1 pkg. Kraft caramels  (take the paper off, duh….) with 5 Tbs. cream.  I did mine in the microwave in a large pyrex measuring cup, one minute at a time.  Be very careful.  It all only took about 2 1/2 minutes.

The Base:

Mix together 1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks) with 1 1/2 cups brown sugar.  Add 2 cups flour and 2 cups quick oatmeal, plus 1 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Press one half of this mixture in a 9×13 baking pan.  Bake for 7-10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and sprinkle one pkg. chocolate chips over the base, then pour the melted caramel over the chips.  Top with remaining crumb (base) mixture.

Bake another 20 minutes.

Cool for 30 minutes and cut into squares.