Icings

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in Mexico

Mom's Basic Icing

Whip together equal parts of confectioners' sugar and butter/vegetable shortening until the sugar is all dissolved and the icing is smooth.
 

Thick Chocolate Icing

Makes 2 cups icing

1/2 lb semisweet chocolate
1/2 lb butter/vegetable shortening

Melt chocolate in a double boiler. When it is soft, add the shortening and swirl until all lumps have disappeared.
Let the icing cool slightly before pouring over cake.

For whipped icing (will double the volume), chill the mixture for one hour then whip it until it doubles in volume.
 

Molding Butter Cream

Used to make icing decorations
Makes 5 cups butter cream

1 1/3 cups butter/vegetable shortening
4 or 5 Tbsp hot water
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the shortening until it is fluffy. Slowing beat in 4 Tbsp of the hot water. Beating constantly, add sugar, 1 cup
at a time. Add the vanilla extract, and continue beating until the mixture is thoroughly blended. It should be the
consistency of mashed potatoes. If it is too stiff, beat in the remaining water.
 

Glacé Icing

Quick and easy
Makes about 1 cup icing

2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 Tbsp warm water

Stir together until the sugar dissolves completely and the icing is smooth. The icing should the thick enough to
coat the back of a spoon. It should be used at once.

Variations: For fruit-flavored icing, replace water with strained fruit juice. For coffee-flavored, replace water with
strong black coffee. For chocolate-flavored icing, melt 2 ounces of semisweet chocolate, then stir into the
prepared icing. Once it is made, this icing can be flavored to taste with vanilla, almond, or peppermint extract, or
with a liqueur. If you use a liqueur, reduce the amount of water by 1 Tbsp.
 

Jam Glaze

Makes 1 cup, enough to fill and cover a 9" cake.

1 cup jelly or jam

Melt the jam over medium heat until it is liquid. Force the glaze through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps of
fruit, and use while it's still liquid.
 

Soy Chocolate Icing

12oz tofu (soft)
12oz chocolate chips
1/4 c soy milk (or regular milk)
1 T butter or margarine

1. Melt chocolate chips with butter.
2. Put tofu and milk in blender - mix.
3. Add chocolate - blend till smooth.  Really gooey - needs to chill.