1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 large egg

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

French vanilla ice cream, optional

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Butter and flour a 9- by 13-inch baking dish.

2. Prepare the filling: Combine the fruit, sugar, lemon zest and flour in a bowl, and mix well to combine. Spoon into the prepared dish. The fruit should come up 1/4-inch from the top. (Save room for the cobbler dough.)

3. Place the dish on a baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

4. Prepare the dough: In a medium mixing bowl combine the ground almonds, flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter with your fingers or two forks until it resembles the size of small peas. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk, vanilla, almond extract and egg, and whisk to combine. Pour it into the center of the dough mixture and mix to combine with a wooden spoon. The dough will be sticky.

5. When the fruit has cooked for 20 minutes, remove it from the oven. Place on a heatproof counter. Use an ice cream scooper to drop the dough onto the hot fruit. You can spread out the dough and make it as even as you like. The more uneven the dough, the more cobbled the dough will look. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of sugar and the sliced almonds over the dough

6. Return the cobbler to the oven for about 20 more minutes or until it is golden brown and the dough is cooked through. Let cool for 30 minutes and serve with French vanilla ice cream, if desired. The cobbler is best served warm.

Advance Preparation: May be prepared up to 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Serve at room temperature or reheat in a 350 F oven for 10 to15 minutes.

(Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks, including "Seriously Simple Holidays," and also a James Beard award-winning radio show host. You can contact her at www.seriouslysimple.com.)