Take 4 figs and place in 400 oven on baking sheet for 20 minutes. When roasted place in blender and purée. If needed, add a little water. Set aside.

Set oven to 375. Prepare a 9 inch springform pan by buttering generously and coating sides and bottom with sugar.

Cream 10 T of butter with one cup sugar for 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating fully. Add ricotta, sour cream, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat until combined. Don’t worry if it looks curdled or lumpy.

Sift flour, salt and baking powder together. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add fig purée. Beat just until combined.

Pour into pan and smooth the top. Place fig quarters gently on top of cake. Sprinkle generously with sugar.

Bake for approximately 40-50 minutes, or until skewer comes out clean and top is browned. Cake may need additional time in baking.

If making with peaches and raspberries, add one half pint of raspberries to batter and 3 sliced peaches and a half pint raspberries to top of cake.