Caramel-Apple Bars

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter or margarine -- chilled
1 21 ounce can apple pie filling
20 caramels
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
 

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Combine flour, oats, and brown sugar in a bowl; mix well. Stir in baking soda and salt. Cut in butter, using a pastry blender or 2 knives, until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of oat mixture. Press remaining oat mixture over bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes; cool slightly. Spread pie filling over baked crust. Combine caramels and condensed milk in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring continually, over low heat until smooth, about 5 minutes. Pour over pie filling. Mix reserved oat mixture and walnuts in a bowl. Sprinkle over caramel layer. Bake until set, about 20 minutes. Cool. Cut into bars. VARIATION: For a chocolaty confection, add 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips to the recipe.