When You've Had One Too Many...

Before your trip to Target and forget, despite the item being at the top of your list, CARAMEL, here is another bar cookie recipe you can use in your drunken state of emergency. Chocolate-in-Oatmeal Bars are fairly similar to the oh-so-tasty Caramel Bars, which I was attempting to make for the second time, but they are a bit quicker and use fewer ingredients. Simple baking for the Smartini-sipping cook. And also a personal favorite from childhood.

Chocolate-In-Oatmeal Bars
from Pen's mom's kitchen

3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup oatmeal
14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter with brown sugar and salt. Blend in flour and oatmeal until particles are fine. Press 2/3 of crumb mixture into a 13x9-inch pan. Heat condensed milk (if you reach for the evaporated, ladies, put DOWN the liquor) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in chocolate chips until completely melted, and then add the nuts. Spread evenly over oatmeal mixture in pan. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs; press down lightly. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until light golden brown. And that's it, you're done!