Peanut Butter Turtle Cookies
Contributed by Diane S.

(Makes about 60 bars)

For the crust:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups pecan halves
For the topping:
1 (14-ounce) package caramels, unwrapped 2 tablespoons half-and-half or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (11.5-ounce) package milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, brown sugar, butter and
peanut butter in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping
bowl often, until creamy, 1-2 minutes. Add egg. Continue beating
until well-mixed, 1-2 minutes. Add flour, baking powder and salt.
Reduce speed to low; beat until dough forms, 2-3 minutes. Press dough
evenly into ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly
over dough. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned
around edges.

Meanwhile, place caramels and half-and-half in a heavy 2-quart
saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth,
6-11 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

Drizzle caramel mixture evenly over pecans; sprinkle with chocolate
chips. Cool completely (about 3 hours) at room temperature. Cut
into bars.