Kolbert's Fruit Torte

There's hardly a fruit that won't work in this simple -- and simply delicious -- dessert. Use sliced plums, pears, peaches, apples or mango or sprinkle a colorful mix of berries over the batter. It's really hard to go wrong here.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup unbleached flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 eggs
4 plums, pears, peaches or apples, sliced into eighths (or 1-1/2 cup mixed berries
Sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and eggs. Beat well. Spoon batter into 8-, 9- or 10-inch springform pan. Place fruit slices in concentric circles on top of batter, or sprinkle berries evenly on top of batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove and cool.

Serves 6.