TDF Caramel Oatmeal Bars

2 cups oatmeal
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 sticks of butter melted (I know!)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 bag of caramels
6 tbsp milk

Mix first 6 ingredients by hand. Save a handful of the oatmeal mixture, set aside for later. Press mixture into bottom of 9 x 13 greased pan. Bake 350 for 10-15 min--will be gooey. While baking, melt caramels and 6 tbsp milk in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. DO not over cook. When baking is done, sprinkle chocolate chips on top of baked oatmeal mixture. Pour melted caramel evenly over chocolate chips. Top with reserved dough--crumble on top. Bake an addional 10 minutes.

Cool completely. ( I refridgerate after it's cool to set the chocolate chips. Then it can stay at room temperature for the 10 minutes it will take for them all to be devoured.)

And to add- I have heard the recipe works well with 2 sticks of butter instead. I also pour 1/2 cup ground flax seed into the dough- because I pour 1/2 cup of flax seed into everything I make. (It's the new black, fyi.)