Insanity..

I had a special occasion to go to, and needed something special to make, but super easy.

I had flour. Butter. All I needed was a can of condensed milk, and wa-la...caramel tarts. They are so freaking yummy...but it's insane to eat more than one. Maybe one and a half. But not two. Ask me how I know. :p


If you want to try these yourself, here ya go:


Caramel Tarts


1.5 c flour
1/2 c butter
a couple tablespoons water
generous pinch fine sea salt

1 can condensed milk


Take a medium pot, fill it to the top with water, and put it to boil. Remove the label off the condensed milk, lay it on it's side UNOPENED in the water, and bring it all to a boil. (DISCLAIMER: This is the way I do it. But it's been known to pop, so I've heard, so I do it when I am not planning on being in the kitchen while it cooks, and with a lid. I have no idea what is supposed to happen if it pops, cause I've never seen it happen, any of the times I've done it, or any of the times any of my friends have done it. Proceed at your own risk.)

Once it boils, turn it to a simmer, and let it simmer for a couple hours. Add more water as it boils down, to keep the can covered. Turn off, take out of the water, and let it cool. Or, do this all the night before, and just turn the burner off and let it call cool itself without having to ever touch it, like I like to do. When you open it, you will have thick, creamy caramel. This stuff is unreal to dip apple slices in.

Crust:

Rub the butter into the flour and salt, til all rubbed in and greasy. Sprinkle in a couple tablespoons water in, and just mix JUST enough to get it mixed, and the dough pulls together. Add a little smidge more if you need.

Preheat the oven to moderate (350* F or 180* C). Press a 1 inch ball of dough into the bottom of the cups of a muffin tin, and press it all on the bottom and up the sides by about a 1/2 inch. Or else use those little patty pans, and go all the way to the top. Bake approx 10 min or so, til lightly golden. Pull out and cool. Pop the little pastry shells out of the pans, scoop a dollop of caramel into each one, and restrain yourself from eating way too many cause they look like little harmless mouthfuls.