Drat, the picture didn’t post!

It might be a little while as I’m not at home now where the cookbook is. But when I have access to it I will post it for you.

It’s not unlike biscotti but much much thinner. I actually use a rotary meat slicer to cut up the loaves into thin slices about 2 millimetres thick for drying out.

Oh, gosh, they all look fabulous! I'm interested in the almond bread recipe, too, please!

Those look great, colleenoz!

Lovely, Colleen! Such a great antidote for the current trend I've been seeing in Christmas cookies here, in the USA (not talking about "here" meaning in the CF), which is over decorated and way too big. Yours look delicious and inviting and celebratory, and meant to be eaten!

Can I get the name of the ones just on top of the ones that have fruit bits in them? I have never seen a cookie like that. Thanks.

It looks great.

Those are the vanilla strips. Unfortunately I promised my late mother I wouldn’t give out that recipe. I’ve only ever once seen the recipe anywhere else, on a website for traditional Maltese foods. How my mother got it is a mystery I will never solve.

Thanks. No problem. I figured they were some traditional type of cookie and I was curious.

A friend of my sister's from high school had parents who emigrated from Malta to the USA. Are the vanilla strips a meringue cookie, with (grated) almonds? --that's what was in her Great Grandma's recipe.

Really? You post pics and don’t give out a recipe? So weird.

Sooz, yes, they are! So amazing to hear of someone else who makes them :-)

mrs_smith, I’m usually more than happy to share my recipes, and am about to post a recipe for one of the non-family recipes. My friends here understand the reason why I don’t give out my mother’s recipes, and the random strangers can just have a merry Christmas.

Colleen, small world sometimes! My sister and her classmate have remained friends for going on 48 years. They're actually a group of friends who have maintained personal friendships with one another after high school.

As for promises, promises are meant to be kept & I admire you for honoring your late mother, and the promise you made to her.

Excellent rebuttal Colleen!!! High-five girl!!

I admire everyone who makes so many varieties of cookies!!! I was given a recipe years ago for biscotti, but I haven't made it. I thought I'd like biscotti, but darn those things are so hard! I've broken a couple of teeth in the past few years (last year was when I tried to bite those plastic t-things that hold price tags on.) So I'm staying far away from anything extra hard.