Trick-or-Treat Bars

1 1/2 cups butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 cups oatmeal

2 cups flour

1/2 t. salt

2. tsp. baking soda

12 oz. pkg. caramels

4 T. butter

4 T. milk

14 oz. plain M&Ms

Whole cashews, optional

Cream butter and brown sugar. Mix together oatmeal, flour, salt and soda. Add this to creamed mixture. Put in a buttered 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Melt caramels, 4 T. butter and milk. Pour over baked crust and sprinkle M&Ms and cashews on top of caramel mixture. Bake for 10 more minutes. Cool at least 30 minutes before cutting. Can use other candy besides M&Ms such as chopped up Snickers, Mars, Milky Ways, etc.