The Famous Carmelitas

These little puppies are hands down the best go-to treat when you are going to a gathering and feel you need to bring something.  They are dangerously delicious as well as incredibly easy to make. Mama B adapted the recipe a tiny, tiny bit from a blue ribbon Pillsbury recipe by using Mrs. Richardson's butterscotch caramel instead of just plain caramel topping.   We both just keep praying that Mrs. Richardson's does not stop making caramel.   Seeing as the past few times I have brought this somewhere the dish was licked clean and multiple people asked for the recipe, I figured it would be easiest to just share it on our little blog.  Before you pee your pants with anticipation, here is the recipe.  Enjoy!

Crust:
2 cups flour
2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup butter, softened (yes...that is 2 1/2 sticks...dangerously delicious)
Filling:
1 (12.5oz) jar Mrs. Richardson's caramel-butterscotch ice cream topping
3 Tablespoons flour
1 (16oz) package semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (if desired)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease 13x9 inch pan.
Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup.  In large bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix at low speed until crumbly.  Reserve 1/2 of crumb mixture for topping.  Press remaining in bottom of greased pan.  Bake for 10 minutes.

In small bowl, combine caramel topping and flour; mix until combined.

Remove partially cooked crust from oven; sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts.  Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture.  Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.  Bake fro 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool 1 hour.  Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until filling is set.

And there you have it.  Perfection in a pan.

As for what we have been doing, we went on a five mile hike to "Dog Lake" today with a few of our "couple friends" today, which was a nice little hike full of gorgeous aspen trees and, of course, Dog Lake which the boys walked around, daring each other to walk as far as they could on logs, throwing rocks, etc.   There is something neat about how men always keep their little boy ambitions.

We went to a play last night, Arsenic and Old Lace, at the Hale Center Theatre in Orem which is always fun.  We were lucky enough to get to use the Taylor's tickets since they could not make it; a big thank you to them!  The play was quite comical about two little old ladies who have a "charity" project of poisoning old men who have no family or friends, after which they then bury their "gentlemen" in their cellar.  Sounds dark, but it was actually quite cute. 

The Hale Center Theater

 Our one question from the night: Why is it no longer expected to dress nicely to attend plays?  Don't the actors still deserve that respect?  Every time Dallin and I go, we are one of maybe five people who are not wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  In fact, the last time we went, there were multiple people wearing sweats.  Sweats!  At the risk of sounding old fashioned, I do not think that sweats should be worn to a restaurant, let alone the theater. 

We dressed nicely

Anyway, we hope you enjoy the Carmelitas. Mama B is testing avocado brownies tonight which I am quite excited for so that we can try them if they are any good.  Leaving you with the song that has been putting a smile on my face lately.  One day, I randomly started humming it to one of my kids which is really random seeing as I have only seen the movie maybe twice in my life, the last time being many years ago.   Love you all!