When my ex-husband and I were still married years ago we would sometimes go into the ice cream parlor in the tiny town where we used to live. The creations they served were delicious, but the most impressive thing about them was they were garnished with pastel colored whipped cream. To me this was just a cool idea, no pun intended.

So if you know me, I had no choice but to boost this idea up a notch.

How about a dollop of pink peppermint flavored whipped cream floating on top of the hot chocolate in your mug? Or some beige amaretto or hazelnut flavored whipped topping spooned over some sliced bananas or a scoop of vanilla ice cream?

All you need to make these delectable creations is a bit of imagination and a packet of dry whipped topping mix, milk, flavored extract, food coloring and a mixer.

Prepare the whipped topping according to the package directions, but be sure to take out a teaspoon of the milk. You can substitute a half teaspoon or so of your favorite flavor extract and a drop or two of food coloring to make up for the teaspoon of milk.

Be as creative as you like, the possibilities are as limited as your imagination. Remember you can combine a drop each of two colors of food coloring to make other colors. To make the presentation even more spectacular, garnish your whipped topping creations, with colored sugar, sprinkles or chocolate shavings.