Celebration Chocolate Revel Bars!

I'm keeping my kids home from school Tuesday for the first two and a half hours. Why, you ask? Because I wanted them to see the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. Our schools waited until the last minute to decide if they were going to show it or not. I think they are going to, but I didn't want to chance my kids missing it. Plus, I have to admit, I wanted to watch it with them. They are almost as excited as I am - well, maybe they are more excited.

So, in honor of a festive occasion, I'm posting a recipe for one of our favorite cookies. In addition, it uses up three of my bulk buying items: flour, oatmeal and chocolate chips!

Chocolate Revel Bars
(originally from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book)

Cream together in a bowl:

1 c. minus 2 Tbls butter (save the 2 Tbs for later)
2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda

When well combined, add:

2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

Beat well and add:

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
3 c. quick cooking rolled oats

If you are using a stand mixer, you can add it all the flour at once and then add the oats. If you are using a hand mixer, you may need to add the oats with a wooden spoon. It gets fairly stiff. Press two-thirds of the mixture in the bottom of a 15x10x1 inch pan. Set the other one-third aside and make the filling.

For the filling, in a medium saucepan combine:

2 Tbs butter (the stuff you set aside before)
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat over low heat until the chocolate chips are melted and everything is combined. Remove from heat and stir in:

2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. chopped walnuts of pecans (I never add these because several children have nut issues - they just really don't like them!)

Spread the warm filling over the dough in the pan. Take the other 1/3 dough and dot it over the surface. I take small pieces and flatten them out in my hands and place them all over the filling. It won't cover everything and that is ok.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until the top is light brown. The filling will still look "unset" but it will set up as it cools.

Let cool then slice into bars. Try not to eat every single one yourself. It will be tough, but try to save some for the other members of your family.
Just look at that fudgy goodness! These are better when they are cool. And even better the next day - if there are any left. Yeah, right.

Enjoy!

Jill