Melt the butter in the microwave until liquid but not hot. 30 to 45 seconds.
In a large bowl, mix the butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Cream them together until they are light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla, lightly incorporate these two ingredients. Don't get to crazy stirring the egg in or your cookies will be a tough.
Add carefully measured all-purpose flour to the cookie mixture. When measuring flour make sure you stir the flour and never tap it or shake it. It should be measured with very light hands. Also add baking soda and salt.
Stir just until the dry ingredients are mixed in. Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips and caramel bits.
Divide dough into 12 equal balls and place onto the cool baking sheet.
Leave plenty of room for the cookies to spread--3 cookies to a row is usually about right for most people's cookie sheets.
Bake for 9-11 minutes. The cookies will not be as "done" as you're used to. Take them out any way.
Allow cookies to set on the cookie sheet for 20-30 minutes to firm up.