Caramel Oatmeal Bars + The Price is Right!

A new friend of mine had the chance to fulfill a dream of hers of being in the audience at the Price is Right; lucky for her, it happened to be on the day Bob Barker made an appearance for his 90th birthday! Another sweet friend decided we should make a celebration of Kathryn's 15 minutes of fame on tv and invited us for lunch and a viewing of the taped show. What a fun and decadent way to spend an hour in the middle of a weekday!!

Cindy served an amazing buffet lunch of mixed green salad with juicy pomegranate seeds, roasted beets and an orzo spinach salad= perfect!

Rachel, Martha, Cindy, Kathryn and Abbie ready to view the show

Katheryn offers Bob a caramel oatmeal bar ☺

Caramel Oatmeal Bars for dessert

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

2 cups flour (plus 2 tablespoons to thicken caramel sauce)
2 cups quick oats (I used regular, quick-cooking is best)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups cold butter, cut into small squares

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (12 ounce) jar caramel topping (like Mrs. Richardson's butterscotch)

In bowl combine oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Cut butter in until crumbly and the dough starts sticking together. Set half of the dough aside for topping and press the other half on the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan. 

Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. While baking, add 2 tablespoons flour to the jar of caramel topping to thicken it. After 15 minutes, remove crust from oven, sprinkle with chocolate chips and drizzle the topping all over. Press the rest of the topping over the caramel by taking a bit into your hand and flattening it, then laying it on top. Bake for 15-18 more minutes. Enjoy!

  
Recipe from Color Issue