Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sifttogether the flour and baking soda, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar,and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally,stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by roundedspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edgesshould be golden brown.