Basic White Decorators Frosting

4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup solid shortening
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla
pinch of salt (optional)

using an electric mixer beat on high speed until light and fluffy. does not need refrigeration. store in an airtight container.

the icing your probably looking for is made from high ratio shortening (the best is Sweetex)and you can substitute solid shortening (the best is Crisco)
The longer you beat this icing the better, and the mfluffier it will become.
Try adding other flavoring like lemon, orange, almond, cream bouquet, rum, butter and/or butter vanilla, until you get the flavor you want.
I recommend a 10x (highley sifted) powdered sugar, this will make a much smoother icing (Dominos is the finest, C&H would be below that but still very good)
you may substitute part butter or margarine for half of the shortening in this recipe with good results, but if you want pure white icing use only shortenting. Butter flavored Crisco is excellent in this recipe but you will get a pale yellow frosting not white white.