Old Fashioned Tapioca Pudding

I found this recipe in the bulk section of WinCo. I soaked my tapioca for more like 4 hours and it still turned out OK. I didn't cool it, I just mixed in the vanilla and served it and it was fine.

1/3 c tapioca pearls
3/4 c water
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar

Soak tapioca in water for at least 3 hours in a 1 1/2 quart pan. Add milk and salt to tapioca; beat egg YOLKS and mix in. Stir until boiling. Simmer uncovered over very low heat for 50 min. Stir now and then. Beat Egg WHITES and sugar together( I accidentally beat the egg whites alone and then added the sugar. It was more like a cream) Also I just mixed in the egg white/sugar mix all at one but the recipe says to put a little tapioca mixture into the egg mixture and then put the egg mixture in. Stir 3 minutes over low heat. Cool 15 minutes and serve warmed of chilled, plain or with fruit, nutmeg or coconut mixed in. I used a couple shakes of pumpkin pie spice