#797 - Caramel Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 sticks softened Parkay margarine
1 egg
1 - 17.5oz. bag Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix
2 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal
1 - 14oz. bag Kraft caramels
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla

In a mixer add 1 stick Parkay, egg--beat. Add cookie mix--beat until blended. Remove bowl from mixer and stir in Rice Krispies. Remove 1 1/2 cups of the mixture--set aside. Grease a 7 x 11 baking dish/pan. Press the rest of the mixture into the dish/pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. While it's baking, in a saucepan add 1/4 stick Parkay, unwrapped caramels (all of them), and heavy whipping cream--cook over low heat while stirring until well blended and melted. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla. Remove pan from oven after the 15 minutes are up and pour the hot caramel mixture over the top. Use a spoon to drop spoonfuls of the reserved dough mixture that you set aside earlier. Return pan to oven and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool pan on rack before cutting.