Caramel Apple Bars

Lesli Dustin

CRUST:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1-3/4 cups flour (I use white wheat flour)
1 cup oats
1 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

FILLING:
8 cups coarsely chopped peeled baking apples
3 T. flour
14 oz. caramels
3 T. butter

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add flour, oats, salt and baking soda; mix well. Stir in pecans if desired. Set aside 2 cups. Press remaining oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 baking pan. For filling, toss apples with flour; spoon over crust. In a saucepan, melt the caramels and butter over low heat; drizzle over apples. Top with the reserved oat mixture. Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Best warm and even better with vanilla ice cream. You can cut the recipe in half and do it in a pie plate.