The final product of Leonard's Granny’s Divinity recipe.

Granny’s Divinty

• 3 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup light Karo syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 egg whites at room temperature 
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 cup of pecan halves

Combine sugar, syrup, and water in heavy walled boiler. Cook over medium flame with a candy thermometer in mixture. While sugar mixture is cooking, in large bowl beat egg whites and salt to stiff peaks. When sugar mixture reaches 230°F, slowly pour, in a thread, a third of the mixture into the egg whites with mixer at high speed. While egg white mixture continues to beat, return remaining sugar mixture to flame and cook until it reaches 255°F. Slowly pour, in a thread, the rest of the sugar mixture into egg whites while beating at high speed, add vanilla after all of sugar mixture is incorporated. Beat until mixture cools, holds shape, and loses its gloss. This is tricky and takes practice. It depends on the room temperature. Generally it takes 6-10 minutes, but can take up to 15 minutes. Usually, the mixer motor begins to bog down a bit when the consistency is firm and ready. If not beaten enough the mixture is like glue. If mixture is too stiff, beat in a teaspoon of boiling water. (I used a stand mixer, can be done with hand held mixer but it's a lot of work.) use two spoons to drop onto wax paper. Top each piece with a pecan half.

Granny, Leonard's little brother, and Leonard the day before they left for California.

Granny and all her grandchildren in her living room. Leonard is on the right.

To learn more about Leonard Lee Smith, visit Leonardleesmith.com.