Another chocolate chip recipe

[This is a variation of a recipe I saw in the Penzey's catalog; I changed a few things, including amounts.]

Chocolate Chip Cookie

1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 small box instant pudding mix (3/4 cup)
2-1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup nuts, chopped

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla, and pudding mix. Sift flour, soda, and salt, and add to the batter. Mix in chips and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. This recipe makes cookies that do not go flat and crispy; they are still soft and chewy a day or two afterward. I used chocolate pudding mix for a chocolate-chocolate chip recipe. You can also use a vanilla pudding mix for a more traditional cookie.

I probably wouldn't do pistachio pudding, though maybe with pistachio nuts instead of pecans or walnuts and red mini-M&Ms, it might work as a funny green and red Christmas cookie. I suppose you can also make this as a bar cookie by putting the batter in a 9x13 pan and baking for 15 minutes or so until done.

What to do with 280 straws

If you don't mind the mess, letting children play with straws can occupy them for hours on end. The only thing I don't like is if the straws then get used with liquids.
The children spent two days playing with these straws. We finally managed to clean them up after they were tired of that game.