Apple and Almond Pie, Cake, Crumble!

This delicious treat has a bit of a split personality. It can't quite make up it's mind whether it's a pie, a cake or a crumble. Of course you could substitute all sorts of lovely fruit mixtures. Berries are always a winner (blackberries are my preference), perhaps a few pears, cherries would work, especially because of the ground almonds in the cake batter, or some apricots might be rather nice. Whatever takes your fancy.

• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup of sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for the fruit
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup of sour cream
• 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 5-6 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• zest and juice of a lemon
• vanilla extract

• Heat the oven to 350F

• Peel, core and slice the apples, put them in a large bowl with a tablespoon of sugar, the juice of a lemon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Let this rest while you're making the cake batter.
• Cream the butter and sugar until really light and fluffy

• Add the lemon zest (this smells wonderful)

• Add the eggs one at a time, stop and scrape down the bowl after each addition.

• Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix until combined

• Add the flour, ground almonds, baking powder and salt and mix gently until combined.

• Pour the fruit into a glass pie dish (9.5 inch) and cover with the cake batter. Seal around the edges with the batter. Sprinkle a few sliced almonds on top and put it in the oven for approximately 40 - 50 minutes. The cake is done when risen and golden brown.

• This is delicious hot or cold, but I must say, warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream isn't half bad!