Mom Wood's Buttercream Icing

My husband says that this is the absolute best icing in the world! Nothing even comes close...

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 30
• Yields: 5 cups

Ingredients

• 2  lbs confectioners' sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄4 cups  Crisco, in really hot weather, cut back by 1/4 cup of Crisco
• 1⁄2 cup water or 1⁄2 cup milk, adding as needed
• 4  teaspoons  of wilton's clear vanilla extract
• 1  tablespoon  of wilton's  meringue powder (optional)

Directions

1. Beat all ingredients for 20 minutes on a regular mixer or about 7 minutes on a Kitchen Aid Mixer.
2. NOTE:.
3. To make this recipe a Chocolate Icing: 1/4 Cup less of the Crisco Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of sifted Unsweetened Dark Cocoa. Note: for the chocolate icing, you can use regular vanilla extract.