1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a mixing bowl combine flour, quick cooking oats, brown sugar and baking soda. Cut in 1/2 cup butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture, adding chopped nuts and set aside. Press the remainder into the bottom of an ungreased 9-inch pan.
In a small saucepan, combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook over low heat just until the chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Spread the chocolate mixture over the crumb crust; top with the reserved crumb/nut mixture, pressing lightly into the surface.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden. Cool in the pan before cutting into bars.
Makes 24 bars.