Divinity

2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
chopped nuts optional


Combine sugar, syrup, water, and salt.  Cook in heavy saucepan til sugar dissolves and mixture boils.  Cook without stirring til it reaches a hard ball stage. 

 While it is cooking, and as it nears being ready, beat the egg whites til they are stiff enough to form peaks.

When syrup is at the hard ball stage, gradually pour the syrup over the beaten egg white, beating at high speed as you do so.   Continue gradually adding the syrup to the egg white until all syrup is used, continue to beat until the mixture holds its shape.  (5 minutes or more ) Stir in chopped nuts if you want nuts in it.

I have never accomplished the art of dropping the divinity onto waxed paper and making attractive dollops as some people do.  I pour mine into a buttered glass dish and cut it into squares. 


This was my daddy's favorite candy.  He called it 'that white stuff'. 

He always made sure I have plenty pecans to make candy at Christmas.