Caramel Apple Bars 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk* crust: 3/4 cups butter, at room temperature 1 cup brown sugar 1 3/4 cups flour 1 cup rolled oats 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) filling: 4 1/2 cups chopped apples (about 5) 3 Tbsp. flour Open the can of milk. Put some water in a small pan and put the can in the water. Bring the water to a boil, turn it down, and simmer it (stirring every 15 minutes or so) till the milk in the can is thick and a light golden brown color. This will take about an hour. Meanwhile, cream the softened butter with the brown sugar, and, in a separate bowl, mix together all the other crust ingredients. Stir the two mixtures together with a fork till you've got sandy crumbs. These will be very sandy. Resist the urge to add liquid. Instead, save out 2 cups of the crumbs and press the rest into an ungreased 9X13" pan. Toss the flour with the apples to make the filling. Spread the filling over the crust. Drizzle the caramel that you made out of the milk over the apple filling. Sprinkle the other 2 cups of crumbs over the apples and caramel, and bake for half an hour @ 400 degrees Farenheit or till golden. Cool thoroughly before cutting. (Remember, patience is a virtue). These are delicious plain and cold, but the very best way to eat them is, once they're cut, warm them for about 15 seconds in the microwave, then top with a dab of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. * If you don't have sweetened condensed milk, you can melt a 14 oz. package of unwrapped caramel candies in the micro with 2 Tbsp. of butter. Be sure to stir them every minute or two.