Royal Icing for Gingerbread Houses

3 Tbl. meringue powder ( you can buy this at WalMart or other places with the Wilton cake decorating supplies)
6 Tbl. warm water
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract

Keep all utensils completely grease-free.
Combine ingredients in bowl, and mix slowly with electric mixer until peaks form. Beat at high speed for 7 -10 minutes. Icing should be consistency of a stiff frosting.

This frosting is fast drying - keep bowl covered with damp cloth. If frosting is too thick for piping, thin with a few drops of water. Store any leftover icing in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for weeks. This recipe makes about 3 1/2 cups.

Use a disposable decorating bag ( Wilton cake decorating supplies - craft section at WalMart or Michael's ) with large piping tip to "cement" the pieces of the house together -you might want to use soup cans or other object to prop up pieces until icing dries hard enough to hold on its own.. Don't be stingy with this cement.