Julia Child’s plum cakes are simply one of the best desserts we have had the honor and pleasure of making and eating. A pitted plum (or peach, or nectarine) half is dropped into a ramekin and embraced by cake batter so lovingly. When it bakes, that batter rises to enclose the plum in a cake that is beautifully moist, buttery, and of perfect texture. The sugars in the plum release to create a natural syrup that flows through the cake to make every bite sinful. The steps seem odd, but no more odd than the woman herself. She did know a thing or two about how to make good food, easily, while still managing to make a mess. Kitchen mistakes happen. This dessert is no fail, and the only mistake is not making it often enough.