Fudge Nut Bars

A soft oatmeal cookie base and top with a layer of delicious fudge running through the middle.  This is my mother-in-law's recipe.  A favorite on our Christmas goodie plates. they are especially good the day they are made.

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 fourteen ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 Tbsp butter

¼ tsp salt

½ cup chopped nuts

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. butter, softened

2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 c. quick cooking rolled oats

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13" pan.

2.  In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and 1 Tbsp. butter; heat and stir until the chocolate is melted.  Remove from the heat and add the nuts and vanilla.

3.  Cream together the 1 c. butter and brown sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt and oats.  Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar/butter mixture.

4.  Press slightly more than 1/2 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.  Spread the fudge filling over crust and drop the remaining dough evenly over the chocolate.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool completely then cut into squares.