SNOW WHITE BUTTERCREAM ICING

This buttercream icing has an ideal consistency for frosting cakes. It is
usually not necessary to thin this icing for frosting cakes. Do so accordingly
if you prefer a thinner consistency for spreading. It has a firm quality making
it good for wedding cake decorations and flat surface or flower nail flowers.
Air dry decorations for 24 hours.

1 cup water
4 tablespoons meringue powder
11-1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1-1/4 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla flavoring
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring

Combine water and meringue powder; whip at high speed until peaks form. Add 4
cups of sugar, one cup at a time, beating after each addition at low speed.
Alternately add shortening and remainder of sugar. Add salt and flavorings;
beat at low speed until smooth.

Yield: 7 cups icing.

Recipe may be doubled or cut in half; however, if cut in half, yield is only 2-
1/2 cups.