Pistachio Dessert aka The Next Best Thing To Robert Redford

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Onto the yummies.  This recipe came from my Dad's aunt and has been in rotation since I was a kid.  It's exactly the same as another recipe we call The Next Best Thing To Robert Redford, but that one uses chocolate pudding instead of pistachio.  I prefer The Next Best Thing To George Clooney, but whoever floats your boat may be inserted.

I was assigned dessert for Easter dinner and this was the first thing I thought of.  It's deeeeelicious and the perfect color for spring.

Here's the recipe:

Pistachio Dessert aka The Next Best Thing To Robert Redford

1 C flour
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 - 2/3 C chopped walnuts or pecans, plus more for garnish
8oz cream cheese, room temp
1 C powdered sugar
1 16oz tub Cool Whip, divided
2 - 3.4oz pkg instant pistachio pudding (you can use one each of chocolate and vanilla instead)

 Combine flour, butter and chopped nuts.

 Press into a 9x13 baking dish.  

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  

Cool.

With mixer, cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar.  

Stir in 4 cups of cool whip.

 Spoon over cooled crust.

Mix pudding as directed on package and pour over cream cheese mixture immediately.  

Spread 1 1/2 cups of remaining cool whip over top.

 Let stand several hours or overnight.

Sprinkle with nuts.

Here's mine on my plate:

And now I'm kicking myself for leaving what was left at my sister's house.