O'CHARLEY'S CARAMEL PIE

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.

Stovetop method: Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Over low heat, simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours until thick and caramel colored. Beat until smooth.

Oven method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into 9-inch pie plate. Cover with foil; place in larger shallow pan. Fill larger pan with hot water. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until thick and caramel colored. Beat until smooth.

Recipe found on New-Sentinel blog: http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/constantine/.