Scotch Bars

This was one of my mom's recipes, and one of the most popular dessert/cookie/snacks she made. It's ultra-simple and just about impossible to mess up unless you just flat-out burn it to a crisp.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 36 bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2  egg yolks
• 1  cup flour
• 1  cup  instant oats
• 1 (12 ounce) package chocolate chips
• 1  cup  chopped  nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Cream butter and sugars.
2. Add vanilla and egg yolks and beat until light and fluffy.
3. Add flour and oats and blend well.
4. Spread in a greased 7"x11" pan and bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until the top is just starting to brown.
5. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips, ideally in the top of a double boiler.
6. Remove the pan from the oven, let sit for five minutes, and spread melted chocolate on top. Sprinkle with nuts.
7. Let cool until chocolate is completely set, then cut into squares and stand back.