The blend of 11 herbs and spices behind KFC's fried chicken empire is described as "one of the biggest trade secrets in the world". And now Colonel Sanders's nephew may have revealed it to the world.The company says the recipe published in the Chicago Tribune is not authentic. But that hasn't stopped online speculation.story_article_left1It all started when a reporter visited Joe Ledington, a nephew of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Harland David Sanders.The reporter was working on a story for the Tribune's travel section about Corbin, Kentucky, where the colonel served his first fried chicken.At one point, Ledington pulled out the will of Sanders's second wife, Claudia Ledington, on the back of which is a handwritten list for a blend of 11 herbs and spices to be mixed with two cups of white flour.Ledington initially told the reporter that it was the original recipe, but later said he didn't know for sure.KFC, a subsidiary of Yum Brands, said: "Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate - this one isn't either."The company said the original recipe from 1940, handwritten by Sanders, is locked up in a digital safe that is monitored by a video and motion-detection surveillance system.The 11 spices:• 2/3 tbsp salt• ½ tbsp thyme• ½ tbsp basil• 1/3 tbsp oregano• 1 tbsp celery salt• 1 tbsp black pepper• 1 tbsp dried mustard• 4 tbsp paprika• 2 tbsp garlic salt• 1 tbsp ground ginger• 3 tbsp white pepperMix spices with 2 cups of white flour...