Bars

Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Sift together the flour, soda, and salt; stir in oatmeal. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Set aside.

For the filling: Add chocolate chips, milk, butter, and salt in the top of a double boiler and melt. Add nuts and vanilla when smooth.

Spread two-thirds of the oatmeal mixture in the bottom of a jelly roll pan. Cover with chocolate mixture. Dot with the remaining oatmeal.

Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees F) for 25-30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9x13 pan. Melt chocolate and cool.

Soften butter and whisk until it is pale yellow and light. Add the sugar and whisk until light and fluffy. Whisk in cooled chocolate, then add eggs one at a time. Whisk in the vanilla, then sift in the flour, cocoa, and salt. Fold in the nuts.

Transfer batter to a prepared baking pan and bake about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8x8 pan with foil. Melt together the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in the top of a double boiler, then let cool.

Stir in vanilla, then eggs one at a time. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well-blended, add flour and stir until you cannot see it anymore. Then beat vigorously for 40 strokes. Stir in nuts and spread in pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Lift up the sides of the foil to remove brownies from pan.