Buttercream Icing

Buttercream Icing

1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine softened
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar (approximately 1 lb.)
2 tablespoons milk or water

Makes: About 3 cups of icing.

Cream shortening, butter and vanilla. Add sugar. Add water until desired consistency, may not use all 2 tablespoons.

Note: I always half and half the shortening and butter, but you don't have to. All butter is super delicious but is more yellowy and all criso is not so good to me. Just remember 1 cup butter/crisco to 1 lb sugar!! You also can use other flavorings instead of vanilla, like almond or butter.