Nope, I'm just greedy! I don't think you're meant to eat them really... I nibbled at mine after Christmas and it was ok. But I'm on record as being a pig...
No recipe needed for royal icing, just buy the packet stuff (Tate and Lyle) and mix nice and thick.
Or you could make it with two egg whites and normal icing sugar, but I think the royal icing in the packet has pasturised egg white.
I will admit to owning this book.