NECTARINE & BERRY COBBLER

Steps:

• Prepare half the Sweet Cream Biscuits recipe on page 34. Cut out 10 biscuits using a 2 1/2 -inch round cutter, or 14 biscuits with a 2-inch cutter. A cutter with scalloped edges makes beautiful cobbler biscuits.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Combine the fruit in a large bowl. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour, and salt together, and stir into the fruit. Add the lemon zest and juice, and mix well. Put the fruit in a gratin dish approximately 9 inches by 12 inches and 2 to 3 inches deep. Bake the fruit for 8 minutes or until the fruit just softens. Remove the dish from the oven. Brush the biscuit tops with the cream and sprinkle lightly with the remaining sugar. Place the biscuits on the fruit in staggered rows and return the dish to the oven (set the dish on a baking sheet to catch any overflowing juices). Bake the cobbler for 35 to 45 minutes, until the biscuits are golden and the fruit is bubbling. Let the cobbler cool awhile and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or lightly whipped cream, if you like.
• Notes
• Use other stone fruit in place of the nectarines; plums will need 1 to 2 tablespoons additional sugar, and the slices should be slightly thinner. Use all nectarines, or peaches or other stone fruit, if berries are not available.
• Instead of cobbler biscuits, bake the fruit with a crisp topping: Mix together 1 1/4 cups flour, 6 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 2/3 cup lightly toasted chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds). Work in 12 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces until the mixture has a crumbly texture. Cover the fruit in the pan with the crisp topping and bake until the fruit is bubbling thickly and the topping is lightly browned.