Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a love for two things: movies and food. I also have a habit for combining the two things. In fact, I find that most of my recipes are inspired by my favorite movies.

This article's recipe is for deliciously chewy brownies with a crunchy crust of an oat mixture with brown sugar. I have named these brownies after a movie made in the hay day of movies. Its title is "The Big Sleep." It is a great detective film featuring the tough Humphrey Bogart and the tough and beautiful Lauren Bacall.

The dark and sweet fudge brownie inside reminds me of the dark side of the movie. After all, it is about a missing girl and a murder. It is unusually dark for such a sweet and delicate era it was made in (so goes the sweetness of the brownie in it self).

The crust of the brownie is a whole different story. It represents the core of the movie which is the relationship between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacal. As you may know, in real life they were together until Bogart passed away. To me they go together like M and M (a phrase we all used as kids). A perfect pair and, therefore: we have the M & M baking bits to represent it.

Also in the crust is oat which, along with the brown sugar, gives you that at home flavor. It is hearty and tasteful, which reminds us of the heart of the movie. The warmth and goodness of the "good characters" and how they relate is what inspired the taste of oatmeal in the brownies.

Not only is the following recipe inspired by "The Big Sleep," but it will probably put you into a diabetic coma if you are diabetic. It is what my family calls The Big Sleep. Be warned, this recipe is a definite no-no for diabetics. Otherwise, feel free to dive in. These are terrific brownies with a touch of something special baked in.

Here's the recipe:

"They'll Put You Into A Big Sleep Oatmeal Brownies"*

Ingredients: ½ cup packed brown guar, 1 package family size brownie mix, 1 and ½ cups quick-cooking oats, ½ cup chopped walnuts, ½ cup melted butter, 1 cup M & M miniature baking bits, ½ tsp baking soda, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, and ¼ cup whole-wheat flour.

1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a small mixing bowl mix the oats, M & Ms, flours, sugar, walnuts, baking soda, and butter. Set aside one cup of it. Pat the rest of the mixture into a greased 15 x 10 baking pan. Prepare to the package and then spread over the crust. Sprinkle with the 1 cup of set aside oat mixture.

2) Bake at 350 degrees for about 28 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and cut into bars.

3) Enjoy on top of some deliciously smooth and creamy ice cream. That'll put you into an even bigger Big Sleep.

*Base of recipe was inspired from Taste of Home and then I molded it from there.

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