Cookie Parlor: pistachio-craisin oatmeal cookies

These cookies are soft and moist, full of flavor and ah so easy! It all starts with..... you guessed it, one of Betty Crocker's cookie mixes.

Oatmeal cookie mix. This time I followed instructions as directed on the back of the pouch, ok, kind of followed, I also added craisins and vanilla for extra flavor and...

pistachios for crunch and more flavor. I love pistachios. They were hard to find, not to mention expensive, when I was a kid so it was rare when I got to eat them. But I digresss....

Set the oven at 375 F

Ingredients:

1 pouch of Betty Crocker Oatmeal cookie mix

1 stick of butter (Softened not melted. If you forget to get it out of the fridge before hand, just throw it in the microwave for about 1 min at Power Level 1. Do a second minute if necessary)

1 Egg

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tbsp of water

1/2 cup of craisins (Cut into small pieces. You could also substitute the craisins for raisins or any other dry fruit, I'm thinking mango)

1/2 cup of finely chopped pistachios (I put them in a small food processor and usually about 4-5 pulses does the trick)

Incorporate the craisins and pistachios with the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until they're evenly distributed. Add the vanilla with the wet ingredients (including the butter) and mix throughly with a fork. The dough comes out a little sticky, but not to worry that is normal.

With a spoon or cookie scooper, scoop out about 1 inch balls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, at least that's what the back of the package calls for, however I found out that the best time for my oven is about 8 to 81/2 minutes. So I recomend you start checking for light golden brown edges at about 8 minutes.

I know it's hard to see in this picture, but when you turn them over....

Nice golden edges..

You are going to feel compelled to try them when they're warm, but I would suggest to let them cool off completly before you sink you teeth into this delicious rounds.