Oatmeal Brownie Gems recipe

2 3/4 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 3/4 cups M&Ms Chocolate Mini Baking Bits
1 (19- to 21-ounce) package fudge brownie mix

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

In large bowl combine oats, flour, sugar, nuts and baking soda; add butter until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Toss in Baking Bits until evenly distributed. Reserve 3 cups mixture.

Pat remaining mixture onto bottom of 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan to form crust. Pour prepared brownie mix over crust, carefully spreading into thin layer. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top of brownie mixture; pat down lightly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs.

Cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in tightly covered container. Makes 48 bars.