Caramel Chocolate Bliss in a Bar

This morning I was trying to come up with something yummy and wonderful to pack in a picnic lunch and instantly thought of my sister's Rich Chocolate Caramel Brownies.  I was so excited because I just happen to have Kraft Caramels sitting on my counter waiting for something tasty to go in.  I found my recipe and went to get my chocolate cake mix and...no chocolate cake mix.  Is that even possible?  How can I not have a chocolate cake mix?  I have nine million of every other kind of cake mix, but no chocolate cake mix!  Brownie mixes, but no cake mixes.  This brought a childhood picture to mind that many of you probably have never had if you didn't live in the boonies.

When I was growing up, we lived, well not as bad as I do now because now I'm in the middle of nowhere, but we lived a fair distance from town.  Once a month or so, the family would head to Scottsbluff for groceries.  We'd walk in the door and grab not one, but TWO carts and take off.  By the time we were through the store, we would have BOTH carts clear full or overflowing and the checkers would all cringe and hope that we didn't go to their lines.  My mom would always complain about that because what difference is there between one family with two carts or two families with one cart each?  I totally agree-I guess we just looked daunting with our two heaping full carts in the line!  Anyway, as the checker would be ringing our things through, we would look at us funny when she got to our four gallons of milk.  My mom would say, "it freezes just fine."  Sorry, the milk thing always stands out in my memory and I just had to share it!  It really has no bearing on my story. :)

Anyway, that picture came to mind because no matter how organized I try to be with my groceries, I always seem to run out of stuff and I never remember Mom saying she had run out of anything.  If only I had remembered that silly chocolate cake mix...

Well, hopefully some of you out there will have a chocolate cake mix to make these:

My Sister's Rich Chocolate Caramel Brownies
 

1 chocolate cake mix (that I don't have)

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup undiluted evaporated milk, divided

35 Kraft Caramels, my sister says "unwrapped" (really, shall I put them in the mix still wrapped...silly sister)

1 6 oz package chocolate chips

Combine cake mix and melted butter.  Stir in 2/3 cup of evaporated milk; your batter will be very thick.  Spread half of batter into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Combine "unwrapped" :) caramels and remaining 1/3 cup evaporated milk.  Cook in microwave until caramels are melted-be careful not to overcook them.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over baked layer; drizzle caramel mixture of the top.  Drop remaining batter by heaping teaspoons over caramel mixture.  Return to 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.  Top layer will still be soft when taken out of oven.  Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Enjoy these while they last and if you happen to be nearby, share them with us, please! :)