Desserts:

Blue Ribbon Divinity

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Ingredients

3 cups white sugar
1/2 cup white Karo syrup
1/2 cup water
3 egg whites at room temperature
Chopped nuts, optional
Marchino cherries, optional

Instructions

In a heavy 2-quart pan, mix the sugar, syrup and water together. Cook on medium heat until syrup reaches thread stage. Dip spoon in syrup and hold it up. As it drips down, a thread will appear when this stage is reached. As syrup begins to heat, place egg whites in a large mixing bowl. Beat until whites are stiff. When the syrup reaches the thread stage, slowly pour half of the mixture over the stiffly beaten egg whites. Keep beating, with the mixture on low. Scrape sides. Return the syrup mixture to the stove and cook to the hard crack stage. To test, drop a little syrup into a cup of cold water. It will get hard and make a cracking sound. Pour the remaining syrup slowly over the mixture in the mixing bowl. Beat until the mixture starts holding its shape. Spread out a large sheet of wax paper. Using two teaspoons, mound the mixture into desired shapes. Work fast as the divinity sets up fast. Top with nuts and cherries, if desired.

Ellen Hanson
Cambridge