Frosting

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup shortening (check ingredients)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla (pure vanilla)
milk or water

Instructions

Cream butter and shortening.
Add sugar and vanilla.
tips:
Add 2 Tbsp milk for stiff icing (drop flowers), 1/3 cup milk for medium icing (borders, dots and ribbons); OR 1/2 cup milk for thin icing (cake frosting, writing, leaves).
Beat until smooth and creamy.

Variations:
WHITE WEDDING CAKE FROSTING: Add 1 tsp almond flavoring in place of vanilla

MAPLE FROSTING: Add 1 tsp maple flavoring in place of vanilla.