Oatmeal Carmelitas

We've lived on our street for about a year and a half and it took longer than expected to get to know the neighbors, but when I finally got to know my neighbor directly across the street from me, it was like friendship heaven wrapped in the prettiest suburban bow.

I cannot write or say enough kind and sweet things about my neighbor, A. She is simply awesome in all the ways you hope a neighbor friend would be, and then some. A lifelong friend, indeed.

But in June, she moved away. {insert boo-hoo-hoos here} Her husband is a proud Army soldier and therefore, she must go where his duty calls.

When she originally shared with me her news of said, pending move, I was beyond sad. Nearly devastated. It brought me back to the days of my own childhood as an Army Brat, watching my friends move away, because their Dads were reassigned somewhere else, or worse yet, my Dad was being sent to a new assignment and I had to move away as a result, leaving best friends behind. But this time, it was my friend's husband taking her away, not her Dad, however, the feelings were exactly the same.

It had taken so long to find a friend like A. She truly is a rare, genuine diamond amongst many, many cubic zirconias, if you know what I mean. And I wasn't exactly in the mood to throw another pity party for one, hoping and wishing for new friends. I mean, I had just recently (and finally) taken the proverbial paper bag off my sad-sack head and was finally enjoying the friendships I had most recently been blessed with, especially A. I wasn't going back to pity party central, sans friends. No way, no how.

So as reality set in and A moved away, I was wishing and hoping and thinking and praying (remember that song?!) for a new neighbor that was as equally awesome. A's house didn't sell right away, but when it finally did at the end of the summer, it was worth the wait, because a super family moved in. I'm so lucky to have a new neighbor who is simply the peaches and cream, for sure!

The new neighbor (also an A) invited us over for dinner (how cool is that?!) and so I offered to bring dessert, of course. I mean, what else would I bring? A salad or a shrimp cocktail ring just doesn't convey the appropriate sentiment of joy and "welcome to the neighborhood" that an über yummy, homemade dessert does.

So what is a girl to bring to a new, awesome neighbor who deserves nothing less than something spectacular? Well, Oatmeal Carmelitas of course!

Culinary Caveat: Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are my absolute favorite cookie in the whole wide world. No contest. So it's an automatic given that any recipe using the winning OCC cookie ingredients would (by default) be spectacular in my book. Nevermind, adding a little caramel sauce and chopped pecans to the whole shebang... holy sweet goodness, Batman! And something about the delicious duo of oatmeal and caramel spoke the love language of Fall-baked perfection to me. Hello, October!

It's practically dessert heaven wrapped in a delicious bow of love thy neighbor. Really. It is.

Oh, and on a side note, my dear, sweet friend A (who moved away in June) is coming to visit me this weekend! I mean, if that isn't the cat's pajamas, then take my Oatmeal Carmelitas and feed them to the dogs. (Don't you dare... I was just being dramatic.) These bars really are THAT spectacular! I hope my new neighbors enjoy them just as much as I enjoyed the "taste test."

Here's to new neighbors, good friends, the arrival of autumn and Oatmeal Carmelitas! Now go make some for yourself!

INGREDIENTS
Recipe from Pillsbury

Crust
2 cups All Purpose Flour
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups margarine or butter, softened

Filling
1 (12.5 oz.) jar (1 cup) caramel ice cream topping
3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1 (6 oz.) pkg. (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts *I like pecans or peecans (depending on where you live!)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Grease 13x9 pan. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix at low speed until crumbly. Reserve half of crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

While the crust is baking, in small bowl, combine caramel topping and 3 tablespoons flour; blend well.

Remove partially baked crust from oven; sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Return to oven; bake an additional 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until filling is set. Cut into bars.

Enjoy on your own or share with a neighbor! I vote for the latter.