Cakes of life (lebkuchen)

5 cm piece of cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
4 cardamon pods
1 finger mace
115g blanched almonds, finely chopped
60g candied lemon peel, finely diced, or chopped
mixed peel
grated rind of 1/2 lemon
2 large eggs
115g caster sugar
a few drops vanilla essence
150g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
rice paper

Preheat oven 1890C (350F Gas Mark 4)
Grind cinnamon, cloves, the black seeds from thew cardamon pods and the mace until fine.
Turn the powder into a bowl and stir in the almonds, candied peel and lemon rind.
Whisk the eggs with the sugar until foamy and the whisk leaves a trail across the surface of the mixture.
Sieve the flour with the baking powder, and fold it into the egg mixture with the vanilla essence and the spice mixture.
Place a sheet of rice paper on each of three baking trays.
Space level dessertspoons of the mixture, eight on each tray.
Bake in the centre of oven for 15-20 minutes until golden.
Leave to cool

Makes about 24