Easy Buttercream Icing - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable shortening, white
1 teaspoon clear vanilla, so the icing will stay pure white
3 tablespoons water
4 cups icing sugar
1 tablespoon meringue powder
1 pinch salt

Preparation

For stiff consistency icing (flowers), dissolve salt in water.
Cream shortening, vanilla and water in a standup mixer.
Mix the meringue powder into the icing sugar.
Add the sugar to the mixer about a 1/4 cup at a time on medium speed.
Whip icing on high for a minute or so until creamy.
For medium consistency icing (boarders, writing), add 1 tbsp + 3 tsp of extra water.
For thin consistency icing (icing a cake), add 2 tbsp + 6 tsp of extra water.