Countdown to Valentines Day ~ Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

As a tribute to MY Valentine, I'm going to devote the first 14 days of this month to him, showcasing some of his favorite treats (and some that he doesn't even know will become his favorites!).

Day 1 ~ Chocolate Chip Cookies!
He says there is nothing better than a warm, gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie, freshly baked.  With a tall glass of milk, of course.  And I have discovered maybe the most perfect recipe - IF you like soft, sweet and thick cookies!

Yeah, I made that.  

These are actually very easy, and quick.  The texture is PERFECT (to me anyway, and my hubby, and all four of my kids :)) and the taste is amazing!  

Recipe

2 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 sticks butter
1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
5 1/4 oz. pkg instant vanilla pudding (if you have two small pkgs, use one whole, and 1/4 c. of the second)
2 eggs, beaten
12 oz. DARK chocolate chips (or you could use plain ol' semi-sweet)

Preheat oven to 350.
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, butter, sugars, vanilla and pudding mix (yup, dump it all in).
Beat together until smooth and creamy.
Add in beaten eggs and mix until fully combined.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by Tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 9-10 minutes.

Word of caution -- this is a very thick cookie dough (and really pretty yummy).  They will pretty much stay in the same shape that you put them on the sheet.  So if you're using a cookie scoop, you might want to flatten them slightly with the bottom of a glass before baking.  Unless you want cookies like this:

(which, by the way, are just as tasty and delicious....they just are cookie blobs instead of nice looking cookies:))

Bake them.  Enjoy them.  Make sure you share them!!!