My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don't think I have ever run across a person that doesn't like Chocolate Chip Cookies. Young or old, affluent or not...everyone loves a simple chocolate chip cookie. Now, that said, everyone also has their own opinion about what makes the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie. Some say crunchy, some say chewy, nutty or gooey. There are a million recipes out there for that perfect cookie. But, my favorite is a big cookie loaded with chocolate chips and somewhere between gooey and chewy. This recipe brings back childhood memories. Though, I'm not exactly certain why. I can remember one very specific time my mom making Chocolate Chip Cookies, but they were made from Tollhouse refrigerated dough. Its not exactly like we were spending a lot of time baking when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong, my mother is a wonderful cook. But, my brother and I both taught ourselves to cook (as pretty young children) at our parents office, while they where working. Its a wonder we didn't burn the place down. Perhaps thats what they were hoping for on the many nights they worked until midnight :) Ahhh, the joys of being self-employed. Sorry about that, side tracked onto memory lane for a moment. So, who knows why chocolate chip cookies conjure up memories of childhood. Maybe its what we wanted our childhood to be or what we want for our own children. I'd love for my girls to have sweet memories of standing at the kitchen counter helping to bake cookies and getting the first one off the tray just as they were cool enough to eat. That comforting scent of brown sugar and chocolate baking. Lots of fun and laughter and less scolding for dumping the bag of powdered sugar in the middle of the kitchen floor. Its always fun baking with a 4 yr old and an 18 month old :)
So what's so special about this recipe. Well, there is the secret ingredient. Oh, you want to know what the secret ingredient is? The secret ingredient that makes this cookie different is.....are you ready for this......Instant vanilla pudding mix. Isn't that weird?!?! Seriously, that's what makes this cookie different. It gives it texture, and tons of flavor. After much doubt, I finally tried this recipe. And it has been my favorite chocolate chip cookie ever since. It met all my requirements for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. If you try it, I hope you love it too! Enjoy!

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 c pecans(optional)
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2.In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add pudding mix, eggs and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips.
3.With a large cookie scoop, drop onto ungreased baking sheets.These will be about the size of golf ball. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Do not overbake. These will look slightly underbaked when you take them out of the oven. Let cool for a few minutes before transfering to wire cooling racks.