Is Cool Whip™ Cool?

Is it a cool ingredient to use in pie?  Now, whipped cream, that’s a tasty ingredient.  Yum.

But back to the whipped topping question.  The recipe might call for a carton of it, defrosted, to be stirred into your peanut butter or key lime pie.  I have to admit; it does taste good and offers a consistency that holds up.  It’s also convenient and quicker than standing around whipping a carton of cream, and there are no dishes to wash unless you want to keep that plastic container for leftovers. 

Read the ingredients on the label of a whipped topping container.  It’s a long list, full of many things.  I didn’t say food ingredients, I said “things.”  In my opinion, whipped toppings are more plastic than food and I’m concerned for all of us.

And it’s not just because of the artificial ingredients.  It’s because I value authenticity.  I value using real food that nourishes us on some level -- beyond just the calories – because it’s:  fruit in season from a local source, cream from an organic farmer (who’s keeping the soil healthy for future food along with providing healthy food in the present), chocolate from fair trade sources, lemons from a relative’s tree.

I know, I know:  shortening and sugar don’t nurture us, so why care about the other ingredients?  Because where we can, paying attention to the ingredients is just like paying attention to the process:  put love in, get love out.

Love you,

Rebecca, Pie Pal

P.S.  Yes, I did put whipped topping in one of my recipes.  Once.