5 level tbsp. flour
1 c. milk (or 1/2 c. milk and 1/2 c. half & half
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. Crisco or other vegetable shortening
1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, add milk slowly to flour, whisking until smooth. Then, over medium heat, stir until thickened. Mixture should be very thick, like mashed potatoes. Do not allow lumps to form. Cool completely, this is very important. You may want to cover flour mixture with wax paper so a skin doesn't form

Beat butter and Crisco together until creamed well. Add confectioners' sugar one-half cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Combine cooled flour mixture and butter-sugar mixture and whip at high speed. Add vanilla. This recipe will fill and frost an 8 or 9 inch layer cake.

If you would like a light chocolate frosting, add about 1/3 cup cocoa to sugar- butter mixture and reduce sugar by 1/3 cup.