Commercial Bakery Icing

1 cup best quality shortening or 1/2 c. shortening & 1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
4 cups unsifted icing sugar
1/4 cup milk or canned milk

 Cream shortening, add vanilla and almond extract, add icing sugar a bit at a time with a bit of the milk. Beat all until smooth. No base coat is required for this icing. If too thick can be thinned with white corn syrup. Cover bowl with a damp cloth to avoid premature drying.

For the cake, Linda recommends a cake mix for a heavy type cake - one with pudding in the mix works well.