OBSTTORTE (FRUIT TORTE)

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• Mix flour and sugar.
• Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add egg yolks; mix to form dough.
• Press dough into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan.
• Dough should come 1 1/2 inches up the sides.
• Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until pastry is firm and light brown.
• FILLING:.
• Drain canned or frozen fruit, reserving juice.
• Crush 1 cup of fresh fruit to make juice.
• Add sugar to fresh fruit and let stand 1/2 hour.
• Drain juice and add water to make 1 cup.
• Mix cornstarch and fruit juice.
• Cook over medium heat until thickened.
• Place whole fruit in baked pastry shell.
• Pour thickened fruit juice over top.
• Chill thoroughly.
• Carefully remove torte from springform pan.
• ALMOND COATING:.
• Beat egg white until foamy.
• Gradually beat in the sugar. beat until stiff peaks are formed.
• Spread the meringue around the outside of the pastry shell.
• Press in the almonds so that they completely cover the sides.
• TOPPING:.
• Gently fold sugar and vanilla into whipped cream.
• Spread over the fruit.
• Garnish with sliced toasted almonds, if desired.