They can be stored for a long time in a dry, airtight container. They're sometimes crushed and use to make pie crusts. Italians stuff these with a sweet filling that's usually based on ricotta cheese. They're sometimes added to sauerbraten or beef stews, or they're crushed into crumbs for pie crusts. The British version of this is the ginger nut , which is similar but very hard.
American ladyfingers are smaller and moister than their Italian counterparts.
If substituting them for Italian savoiardi, use more and toast them briefly in the oven before using. These are soft cookies that are made with either almonds or coconut. These are rich, cake-like cookies that are shaped like shells. They're often flavored with lemon, orange, chocolate, or almonds. Look for it in Jewish markets.