“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Throwback Thursday - 50 years of Cool Whip


Happy Birthday Cool Whip, you're 50 years old this year!

source

Most of you are familiar with "Cool Whip".  It's one of those items that Martha Stewart has probably never eaten.  But back when I was growing up it was a staple in our household, it replaced another 'almost food' item called Dream Whip.  Don't get me started on that foul concoction. I'm not sure if they even make it anymore....

Anyway, we're here today to talk Cool Whip which was brought to a supermarket near you back in 1966.  Do you remember that catchy phrase and commercial jingle in the late 80's, called Cool Whip's the One?
If not let me refresh your memory....






The lyrics as far as I could make out are something like....

"What makes everything so whip smackin',
lip smackin'... a-aah good... mm-mm
Cool Whip's the one, that whipped creamy taste.

Cool Whip's the One,
That makes it whip smackin',
lip smackin'... a-aah good, yeah!
Cool Whip's the one,
That whipped creamy taste,
Cool Whip's the One!"

OK so wasn't that fun! Never mind that the debate still rages as far as whether Cool Whip is a food or not... Health nuts, don't lecture me... it's not as though we eat this stuff everyday. Besides, if you've ever eaten a prepared salad dressing or pretty much any processed food you've eaten the ingredients that are in Cool Whip!

Now back to my story,.... so my Mom loved to make Jell-O Salads and they almost always had a Cool Whip addition to them.  By the way Jello-O is twice as old as Cool Whip!  Sometimes the Cool Whip was incorporated into the salad or it was just a festive dollop on top. I remember how a plain old cherry Jell-O with sliced bananas suspended inside was transformed into a work of art when Cool Whip was slathered on top and sprinkled with chopped walnuts! My mom served it in a clear glass salad bowl and to a ten year old kid it looked like a sparkling jewel!

One reason cooks love Cool Whip is because it holds it's shape for a long time.  Regular whipped cream will start to melt and break down, especially in warm conditions.  That's why Cool Whip was a popular item for all those pot-lucks and church dinners!

So I can't leave you without sharing a simple recipe that has tons of variations all over the internet. Is it a dessert, is it a salad?  Who cares, it is delicious!  Here's my favorite...




Fruit Cocktail Cottage Cheese Salad
1 box Lemon or Lime Jell-O (3 oz.)
1 can crushed pineapple (8 oz.)
1 can fruit cocktail (14 oz.)
1 small container Cool Whip (10 oz.)  UPDATE: I now use Truwhip instead.
1 container small curd cottage cheese (16 oz.)

Drain the fruit cocktail juice into a glass measuring cup and heat in microwave until hot (about 30 seconds) or heat in a small pan on your stove. Remove from heat and stir in the Jell-O and mix until it's dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the pineapple, cottage cheese and the fruit cocktail. HINT- To help this set faster, I refrigerate the canned fruit ahead of time so that it is cold.

Add your dissolved Jell-O and stir to combine.  Fold in the Cool Whip and transfer to a large serving bowl or container and refrigerate for several hours. It will have a somewhat soft consistency.

More HINTS-- Use any flavor Jell-O you like. If you like less sweet and more like a salad, add 1/2 cup sour cream or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt in addition to the cottage cheese. If you want it more like a dessert, add marshmallows.  Want nuts, add some. You can do pretty much anything to this salad/dessert and it will turn out yummy!








Want this salad but without the Cool Whip? Here's a recipe for whipped cream, try substituting it for the Cool Whip. Best if eaten the same day, remember the real whipped cream might not hold up as long as Cool Whip.

UPDATE: I no longer use Cool Whip as they have been using High Fructose Corn Syrup and other questionable ingredients in this product. I use a product called Truwhip instead.

Homemade Whipped Cream
1 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt

Pour the heavy cream into a large metal bowl with crushed ice under the bowl.

Add about a 1/3 cup of sugar and a tiny pinch of salt.
Whip for approximately 5 minutes until it forms soft peaks. Must be  keep refrigerated for best results.

Disclaimer.... These are my personal opinions, I'm not being reimbursed for anything I say or do on my blog!

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane! 
So the burning question... Is Cool Whip a Food? 

Thanks for joining me on Throwback Thursday!
~~~ Diane ~~~



20 comments:

  1. Man, I grew up on Jello salad! But my Mom always used Dream Whip in the 1960s/70s -- I'm not sure if we had Cool Whip in Canada yet. No "special" meal was complete without a jello salad in a fancy molded shape! I'm kinda sad that they're not as popular as they were then, because I always enjoyed eating them.

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    1. My mom used Dream Whip until Cool Whip came along, a big improvement! Back in oldie times molded gelatin items were very popular because they were horrid to make and difficult to keep, therefore only the super rich had them. Remember Downton Abbey, I think they had a dinner that featured some gelatin dish that was causing Mrs Patmore fits ...

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  2. Wow, how time flies! Cool Whip is almost as old as I am! (I am 59!) I never realized it has been that long! I love your photos, and the canned fruit...perfect for anytime, especially hot summer days! Would you believe that I haven't bought or had any Cool Whip in at least 30 years??? I also remember Dream Whip, too, and my mother used both over the years. Great post, thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Wow Linda, I admire your healthy eating! Cool Whip is inescapable here in MN, I'm sure it's on/in half the salads and desserts at the church potlucks! Haha!

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  3. Oh Yes, I remember that commercial, Diane. I like Cool Whip, but the homemade whipped cream sounds Yummy. Yes, I think Cool Whip is a food, it has cream and sugar.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. I think it's a food too, in the same way condiments are food!

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  4. I've never used it! I should get a life! :)

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    1. Hi Lee I don't think it would meet with your high standards! Lol, besides don't you live in Australia? I'm not sure you can get it there.

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  5. Oh Diane did your mom and mine go to the same cooking school: )?? We ate hello in every form imaginable. Did not realize that cool whip came out in 1966. My mom used dream whip also. I think cool whip is real food. (Lol). I know I use it. On the same subject do you recall whip and chill? We had that also. Think it was made by Dream Whip too. Well thanks for taking me down memory lane. Hugs!

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    1. Yes Debbie they did! The Midwest! Thanks so much for stopping by. .. hugs back!

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    2. ...whip & chill... didn't it form three layers on its own?

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  6. Hi Diane,
    We can’t get Coolwhip in the UK (as far as I know), but I’ve just done an online search and found this;
    “Dream topping is the nearest substitute in the UK”
    So if anyone else is looking for Coolwhip try Dream topping – I’m going to. Your receipt looks delicious Diane.
    Have a lovely weekend. x

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    1. Great info Barbara! I only use Cool Whip in salads, and desserts like the one I featured. For special occasions and when used as just a topping, I prefer the taste of whipped cream. My hubby on the other hand loves his Cool Whip and prefers it to the real thing!
      Also noticed you used the word 'receipt' for recipe... remember seeing 'receipt' in some of my old cookbooks from the 30's and wondering about that ... guess we in the US have grown away from some of the original words that were used by our UK predecessors. Have a nice weekend too!

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  7. What fun your post is Diane! I remember so many versions of that salad and used to love it. Think I need to try making a version. I still make a pineapple pie that uses a container of cool whip. My mom's recipe. Get rave reviews wherever I take it. If asked for the recipe I don't hesitate over the cool whip, but I'm sure it raises a few eyebrows.
    Thanks for the memories. :)

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  8. This post is so much fun! How about Nutri-Whip?? That's what my mom uses. I'm not sure if she ever used cool whip? But, she did make the jello salads and still does! I love them! I love your recipe too Diane! Thanks!
    I really enjoyed all your messages on my blog post! Thanks! I would never delete them! You know me with my art, whatever I am feeling, that is what is coming out. So right now, there is a lot of dark colours. I think the "real" crow is coming out! LOL!
    Hope you're having a great summer! Big Hugs!

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  9. Hi Diane,

    How cool is this? Yay to Cool Whip and its fiftieth birthday. Now then, I'm very familiar with Cool Whip and Jello from when I lived in Canada. Guess what you can't purchase easily in the UK? Yep, Cool Whip and Jello.

    Thanks for a neat posting and the recipe!

    Gary :)

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  10. Wow, has it been so long! Yikes, I'm feeling my age :)

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  11. I've never heard of Cool Whip, but am impressed that it's been around for so long. A wonderful tribute post ♥

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  12. I should celebrate their birthday by having some on the top of a good cake :)

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