Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

I love cookies. In an ideal world (which ends up being pretty often), I would eat one every day after lunch. I am pretty sure that even though not everyone is a baker, per se, everyone has made a batch of chocolate chip cookies at some point in their life. Often times you want to make a dessert that is easy to bake, easy to assemble, and easy to transport (if you are going to elsewhere for dinner). Cookies are perfect for that, but sometimes you want that delicious chocolate chip cookie taste in a different, fancier form. I have seen several recipes for chocolate chip cookie cakes and pies, so I put together this one based on several variations and I am really pleased with how it turned out! It was like a cross between a cookie, a cake, and a pie, all in one. A couple of my friends ate it by itself, just like you would a cookie (great with coffee in the afternoon). Personally, I like to eat it (and serve it) warm with vanilla ice cream (the individual slices can be reheated in the microwave for 25 seconds before serving). Regardless, it was really a delicious dessert option and took only about an hour (including baking time) to make.

Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups flour
-3/4 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1 stick of butter (softened/at room temp)
-3/4 cup brown sugar
-1/4 cup white sugar
-2 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla
-1 cup chocolate chips
-1 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but I added them and I think everyone should- they add a really nice element to the pie)

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350.
-Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
-With an electric mixer (or just a spoon and some elbow grease), blend the butter with the brown sugar and the white sugar until smooth.
-Blend in each of the eggs, one at a time.
-Blend in the vanilla.
-Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time and blend everything together.
-Fold in the chocolate chips and the walnuts (use a spoon or a spatula, not the blender).
-Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden brown on top. Serve warm with ice cream, or room temp by itself.