Lightened O'Charlies Caramel Pie

The O'Charlies Caramel Pie is one of those recipes that's been floating around for a while, but I rarely ever use the full fat recipe. I'll try anything to "lighten" up a recipe, and this one works just perfectly with the fat-free sweetened condensed milk. This is about the easiest dessert to make. You just have to make sure you have sufficient time. I usually make it the night before I serve it, but you can surely do it on the same day. Just throw the whole can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot and boil for a couple of hours. I usually do laundry or clean while it's boiling. You have to add more water every once in a while to make sure the whole can is covered, but it's about the hardest dessert to mess up...... and it's delicious.

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker pie crust (I use the reduced fat)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (I use fat free)
1 container cool whip (I use light)

Directions:
Take the paper off of the milk can. Fill a large pot up with water and place the can of milk inside. Make sure the can is fully submerged in the water. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 hours. The milk will turn to caramel like magic. Take the can out with tongs (it will be very hot), and let cool to room temp... this will take a while. Once cool, open can and spread the caramel evenly in the pie crust. Spread the cool whip on top of the caramel. Refrigerate until time to serve.

**If you have issues with boiling a can, you can certainly pour the contents into a double boiler and stir until it turns to caramel. I don't have that kind of patience, but if you do.... go for it. Personally, I've never had a problem with boiling the can, and I've made this pie numerous times.

**A good variation of this pie would be to add toffee bits within the caramel and sprinkle some on top of the pie. Mmmmm.

Source: O'Charlies