Royal Icing (Juliausher.com)

Ingredients:
2 Lbs. Powdered Sugar
1/2 Tsp Cream of Tartar
5 Large Egg Whites OR 5 1/2 Pasteurized Egg Whites OR 11-12 Tsp Carton Egg Whites
Flavoring
Liqua-gel or Gel Food Coloring

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients except food coloring into the mixer bowl. Hand mix a little to avoid sugar from flying out of the bowl. Start on low and gradually move to high until consistency is thick like glue (about 1-2 minutes)
2. Add flavor if desired (to taste)
3. Separate out 1 cup of icing to color. Add a few drops of color and mix. Consistency should still say the same (thick like glue).

Outlining- add 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. of water to icing and gently stir to avoid adding air bubbles. Consistency should fall off spoon in blobs for outlining

Flooding- add 2 to 3 tsp. of water to icing and stir. Run fast off the spoon and disappear in about 10 seconds. (add more water for larger cookies and less for smaller cookies)

Top Coating (spreads to decorate without outlining)- add 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tsp. of water to icing and gently stir.  Consistency should drip off spoon and disappear into the rest of the icing in the bowl in about 15 seconds

If you over water, sift powdered sugar into the icing to thicken it up.