This spectacular icing looks like whipped cream and you can swirl it into glorious curls and dips. You can also tint this icing as suggested in the cake recipe; but, if you are making this for New Year's Eve, I suggest that you keep it white with the silver dragees for that festive 2000 look.

3	Tbl	all-purpose flour
1/4	tea	salt
1	cup	milk
1	tea	pure vanilla extract
1	cup	sugar
1	cup	butter, softened

• Stir together flour, salt and milk in a small saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla, and let cool completely.
• While the paste is cooling, cream the sugar and butter until smooth and fluffy, about 10 minutes with electric mixer at highest speed.. Add the paste mixture and beat until mixture looks like whipped cream, about 10 more minutes.
• Makes enough to generously frost a 2-to-4 layer cake.