I thought my aunts’ recipe was gone forever, but guess what? I found it and it tastes even better than I remembered

Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, softened butter, powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
4. While the crust is baking, make the caramel layer by combining the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Pour the caramel layer over the baked crust and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the caramel.
6. Bake the bars for an additional 15-20 minutes until the caramel is bubbly and the pecans are lightly toasted.
7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let them sit for a few minutes to melt, then use a spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bars.