Louise's Buttercream Icing

This recipe is from Trish's mother, Louise. It's quite different from the usual butter cream icing. It's fluffy and delicious, light and creamy, and it's not as sugary sweet as some icings. It's great on a chocolate cake. Oh, who are we kidding? It's great on ANY cake!

1 cup milk
3 tbs flour
1 stick butter, softened
5 tbs shortening
1 cup sugar
1 tsp pure almond extrat
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a small pot, over medium low heat, cook milk and flour, stirring until it becomes thick. Remove from heat. Pour into mixing bowl and let cool. Once it's cooled, add remaining ingredients and beat until thick and smooth.

Tip:
The key to this recipe is to make sure the milk has gotten good and thick before removing it from the heat. And while you're letting it cool, put some plastic wrap right down on top of the milk so that a skin doesn't form while it's cooling. Oh, and don't forget the almond extract. Thats what makes it so good!