Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!

This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, a hybrid of two other recipes. I used a simple recipe and added an unexpected ingredient--instant vanilla pudding mix--from another recipe to make these spectacular cookies!
The unexpected ingredient came from the "Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies" recipe on allrecipes.com, but the main recipe below is from popularcookierecipes.com.

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs,beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix*
  
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• if desired, 1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl by hand. Stir in flour, baking soda, pudding mix* and salt. The dough will be very stiff. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans if desired.
2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown.