The best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our family friend, Gail Cowley, always makes the best cookies. I am finally posting (and using) the recipe for the first time since she emailed it to me a year ago--only because I don't make cookies very often and I always forget to stock up on the secret ingredient: pudding mix. Anyway, this week I am going to experiment a little with the flavors--I got pistachio pudding mix to mix with craisins and chocolate pudding mix to mix with marshmallows and white choc chips.

2 1⁄4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

3⁄4 cup brown sugar

1⁄4 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pkg. (4 serving size) vanilla INSTANT pudding*

2 eggs

1 12 oz. pkg. Chocolate chips (about 2 cups)*

1 cup nuts (optional)

Mix flour and baking soda. Set aside. Combine butter, the sugars, vanilla and pudding mix in a large bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture, then stir in chips and nuts.
Drop by teaspoonfuls about 2” apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375o for 8-10 minutes. Bake less time to keep them soft.

*May substitute chocolate instant pudding and white chocolate chips.
*May use Reese’s Pieces or M&M’s instead of chips.