Vanilla Icing Recipe

This vanilla icing recipe was sent to me by a Cookie Recipe Club visitor and even though I haven't tried it I can tell that it will not harden up according to my definition of icing.

Since it calls for shortening and butter it won't be a pure white color, which seems to me should be the color of vanilla icing. I'm also a little skeptical of the raw flour as a thickener.

If I decide to try it I think I'll use all shortening and clear vanilla and cornstarch in place of the flour. But then it wouldn't be the same recipe would it?

Vanilla Icing Recipe

6 Tbsp. Shortening
6 Tbsp. Flour
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
4 Tbsp. soft butter
4 to 6 Tbsp. Milk

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. (Make sure butter is soft.) Start out with 4 tablespoons of milk and if icing is too thick, add more to make creamy. Beat on high speed until creamy.

If you decide to give this recipe a try "as is" please give me some feedback on it.