recipe: coconut dream pie

this is the best coconut cream pie recipe that looks beautiful and completed but is far from it. just don't let anyone know it only took you less than 15 minutes to make it and that no baking was required! many diet or low-fat substitutions can be made. you can also use this same recipe to make a chocolate dream pie, strawberry cream pie, butterscotch pie, pistachio pie (how good does that sound?) or even banana cream pie. flexible recipe allows you to be very creative.

you'll need:
premade pie shell (either graham cracker crust or premade regular crust, prebaked)
2 cups cold milk (can use skim if you'd like)
2 packages vanilla jello pudding mix (can use low fat / diet if you'd like)
1 1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 cups cool whip, divided 1 cup each (can use lite or "free" if you'd like)
1/3 cup toasted shredded coconut (just put it on a cookie sheet in the oven for a few minutes until brown)

to make:
in a large mixing bowl combine: milk and pudding mix. whisk for 2 minutes. stir in 1 cup shredded coconut and 1 cup cool whip. spread in pie shell and cool (2 1/2 hours to overnight). top with remaining cool whip and garnish with remaining toasted coconut.