I had a very nice email from Jill Browning, Senior Publicist/The Crown Publishing Group, Random House, Inc. in regards to my request for sharing with you all a sampling of John Barricelli's, The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook. The recipe, they chose to share, is for SoNo Cheesecake, which I haven't made yet, but believe me, it's at the top of my list. The fact it has a pistachio coating fits perfectly with my "green" theme and don't those raspberries look so fresh you can smell them? John includes photo steps to complete the cheesecake and there is a sidebar for Technique Tip that will help you achieve a masterpiece. Here is the recipe...thank you again John and Random House. Pistachio Graham Cracker Crust 1/4 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 tsp. coarse salt 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1. Preheat the oven to 300F-degrees. Bring water to a boil for a water bath. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 2 inch cake pan, set aside. 2. To make the crust: In a food processor, pulse the pistachios with the sugar and the salt until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large bowl, add the graham cracker crums and butter, and mix to combine. Press the graham cracker mixture over the bottom of the buttered pan. Set aside. Filling 2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature for at least 6 hours 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon vanilla paste, or seeds from 1 whole vanilla bean 5 large eggs, at room temperature 2/3 cup sour cream 3. To make the filling: In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and vanilla paste or seeds on medium-high speed, scraping down the bowl several times, until the mixture is completely smooth, about 5 minutes. 4. Turn the mixer to low and beat in the eggs, one at a time, until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the sour cream until blended. 5. Place the cake pan in a roasting pan. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the cake pan--it will come all of the way to the top of the pan. Place the roasting pan in the oven and pour in the boiling water to come about 1/2 inch up the sides of the cake pan. Bake until the filling is set, but still jiggles slightly in the center, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Chill for 4 to 6 hours, or overnight, in the pan. 1/2 cup apricot jam 1/2 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, pulsed in a food processor until coarsely ground 3 (1/2-pint) containers raspberries Confectioners' sugar for dusting (optional) 6. To finish, heat the bottom of the pan over a flame or an electric element to loosen the crust. Invert the pan onto a 9-inch cake round or large plate. Remove the pan from the cake and invert once more onto a 9-inch round or large plate so the crust is on the bottom. In a small saucepan, warm the strained jam over low heat until liquid. Strain through a fine strainer. Brush the top and sides of the cheesecake with the strained jam. cover the top of the cake with a single layer of raspberries. Holding the cake with one hand under the bottom, and working over a sheet pan to catch the excess, gently press the ground pistachios all around the sides of the cake. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired. I love cheesecake and my mother made one of the best Lemon Cheesecakes I've ever had. I usually like to make hers for Easter, but I think I'm going to make the SoNo Cheesecake this year. I certainly will share the results with all of you; in fact, I wish you could really share the results so I don't end up eating it all! Enjoy!