Oatmeal Caramel Bars

I must secretly be in a phase because if you've noticed my desserts lately have had one common ingredient: CARAMEL!!  This is another good one.  It takes a little time and you have to wait a bit (you can't eat them straight from the oven..I tried that!!). They are worth the time and wait!

Oatmeal Caramel Barsadapted from Betty Crocker
1 (14 oz.) bag caramels
1/3 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 - 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13 pan.  Unwrap caramel (ths is where you put the kids to work). Heat caramels and milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove from heat. 
Stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and egg in a large bowl.  Stir in the butter with a fork and mix until the mixture is crumbly.  Press half of the crumbly mixture in the pan.  Bake for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle chocolate chips and peanuts over the baked layer.  Drizzle with the caramel mixture.

Sprinkle with the remaining crumbly mixture.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool for 30 minutes and loosen edges for the sides of the pan, cool completely.

Cut into bars and enjoy!!