Pistachio Squares

For the base a basic sugar cookie recipe:

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 9x11 baking pan. Blend together the flour, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
3. Spread evenly on the bottom of the greased pan. Bake 30 minutes of until cookie bottom has turned golden brown.
4. Allow to totally cool.

For the top:
1 1/2 package of cream cheese at room temperature.
1 cup powdered sugar
1 package of pistachio pudding
1 cup roughly chopped pistachios
1 cup milk

1. Cream together the powdered sugar and cream cheese. Add the pistachio pudding, milk and 1/2 cup of the roughly chopped pistachios until smooth.
2. Spread mixture onto cooled cookie bottom and top with remaining chopped pistachios.
3. Refrigerate for two hours or overnight before serving.