Cooking is FUN!!!!!

So if you've ever been to O'Charley's restaurant here around Indiana, then you've probably tried the caramel pie. If not, then you aren't a true Hoosier! Anyway, the caramel pie is the best thing in the world. We get a free one each year for my nephew's birthday. This year, I decided I would challenge myself by making it!

What does a restaurant style recipe include, you may ask. Well, exploding cans of course, I answer you! The recipe is as follows.

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk
1 large tub Cool Whip
1 C mini chocolate chips (optional)
1 C chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
Remove label from milk. Place condensed milk into pot, cover with water and heat until boiling. Cook at low boil for 3 hours making sure cans are covered at all time. (If making more than one pie, boil more than one can!) Using tongs, remove can from water and let cool completely before opening. Pour caramel from can into pie crust and layer Cool Whip on top. Place in refrigerator. When ready to slice, sprinkle nuts and mini chips on top for decoration.

Note:
Cans have been known to explode when prepared this way, especially if not kept covered with water. Here's another method for caramelizing sweetened condensed milk.

HAHAHA, DID YOU SEE THE NOTE?!?! Who would have thought there would be so much fun in caramelizing milk? Not I! But I'm all game for it and as we speak, a pot of canned milk boils away and there has not yet been an explosion and we're 50 minutes into the boiling process! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!