Roast almonds in a 180ºC oven for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool to room temperature. Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl reserving about 1 cup. Lightly beat eggs and vanilla and add. Work mixture until dough coheres adding reserved dry ingredients if necessary. Add nuts and knead until they are evenly distributed. Divide into thirds and rest for a few minutes. Then shape into slabs about 3 cm wide and 12-14 inch long. Place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake at 150ºC for 50 minutes. Cool on a rack for 5 minutes then cut diagonal bars 1 cm thick. Lay the cookies on their sides and return to the oven for 50 4 dozen.

The result depends heavily on your mixing technique and on the flour you use. If your first batch resembles a sack of small bricks, try (try) again.