Oatmeal Fudge Squares--My First Absolute Success

Ok, so this past weekend I was stuck in my apartment all by myself. My roommates were out of town. With the beginning of the Olympic games and a lot of work I need to catch up on, I barricaded myself into my apartment to watch and work and bake--so maybe the work part went out the window. Anyway, I discovered this delicious and bakery worthy cookie square. I made some for a party the next day and everyone said they were amazing also.
  Thus, I present to you these morsels of loveliness. Served hot, they are the perfect pairing for ice cream--fudge and cookies. Served cool they are some of the richest and scrumptious snacks you have ever had. I got the recipe from the mother of all Mormon baking books, Lion House Baking.

Oatmeal Fudge Squares

Ingredents:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (I used old-fashioned and they turned out fine)
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X13-inch baking pan and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.

Add eggs and vanilla.

 

In a small bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt (I used a whisk.) and add to creamed mixture. Mix in oats.

In heavy saucepan, mix sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and margarine and heat until chocolate is just melted. Stir in vanilla and nuts. (To tell you the truth, I forgot to add the vanilla both times I made this. I also didn't have nuts. I didn't miss either in the finished concoction.)

Spread two-thirds of the dough into prepared baking pan. 

Spread with chocolate mixture. Drop remaining one-third of dough on top by spoonfuls. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool (or don't), then cut into bars. Makes 36 bars. 

These are seriously amazing. The picture does not do it anywhere near justice. The fudge-cookie combination is so, so good. Yum!

Cheers!