Buttercream Icing:

1/2 cup butter (room temperature)

3 and 1/2 cups sifted confectioner sugar

3 to 4   Tablespoons light cream or milk

1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla or clear vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon meringue powder (Wilton) (optional)

 Directions:

 In a medium bowl, mix butter with sugar, 3 Tablespoons cream or milk and vanilla and cream until smooth and creamy.  Sift meringue powder and confectioner sugar together and slowly add to creamed mixture and mix until light and fluffy.