Have you made some resolutions for the New Year?

I have heard most of the resolutions; I resolve to live a healthier lifestyle. I resolve to loose the baby fat. I resolve to live in the moment. I resolve to quit smoking. I resolve to exercise more. I resolve to save money.

I resolve to laugh more. Yes, that is my resolution for the year. Did you know that children laugh on the average 400 times a day? The average adult laughs 17 times a day. Karen Williams, comedian and founder of the HAHA Institute, has done the research to back this up. No kidding! So, in 12 months I should be healthier in mind and body. I resolve to go on the laughter diet.

This diet sounds like fun. Anyone care to join me? Imagine yourself laughing hundreds of times a day. Laughter is contagious, so go out into the world and spread the laughter. If you force yourself to laugh you will eventually break out in a real laugh, the belly kind. I hear that belly laughing is better than doing sit-ups. I am not responsible if you pull a muscle laughing. I recommend you start gradually and build up to a roaring laugh.

Getting back to the recipe: I also resolve to eat more vegetables. Ok, so I will laugh as I am eating the vegetables. The following recipe may not make you laugh but it will make you healthier.

This is one of my favorite recipes. I lost 60 pounds a few years ago eating these tortilla pizzas for most of my lunch and dinners. At the time, I had a hectic schedule, no time to cook, but wanted to get my veggie servings. I would come home and throw a one dish meal together in minutes. I kept precut veggies in the refrigerator and that definitely streamlined the cooking process. My clothes were getting bigger on me. I was going to the gym regularly too. I go to the gym now but cannot seem to drop the extra 30 pounds. I think I need to eat more tortilla pizzas as one of my New Years Resolutions.

When we owned the restaurant in Nevada City, I would on many occasions, make a tortilla pizza for myself as my meal. The customers would comment on how yummy they looked. I made some sample tortilla pizzas and by popular demand they were added to the menu. My business partner tried to get me to serve them to customers, but they seemed too simple of a dish to put on the menu. We had folks that would order them on their way home. I gained a reputation in the area with these little tortilla wonders.

The tortilla has been around since Pre-Colombian times. They were originally made from corn that was soaked in lime water. Lime water is highly caustic. It does not come from limes. It is a soil, white in color, and is used in commercial applications. The lime water caused the skins of the corn kernel to be shed. The inside of the corn kernel was cooked and kneaded into a dough called masa nixamalera. The thin tortillas were grilled on a terra cotta griddle.

The word "tortilla" is a Spanish word. The word has different meanings. Torta means round cake. Tortilla stands for omelette. Tortilla de patatas is an omelette with fried potatoes and onions.

The flour tortilla was brought over to the New World from Spain. Other cultures have similar flat breads such as roti from India and the loabing from Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean region. In Mexico tortillas are used instead of bread. Tortillas come in flour, corn, whole wheat, and other types of flour. They vary in size and thickness. There are many flavors of tortillas in our supermarkets such as spinach, sun dried tomato, garlic and herb, chipotle chili, low fat, no fat, no lard, and plain.

Use your favorite tortilla for your meal. For this recipe I used flour tortilla’s made in Hawaii. Most grocery stores have a tortilla section and lots of choices.

Ingredients needed:

• Olive oil or Pam olive oil spray

• Package of Tortillas

• Assorted fresh, raw veggies are best for nutritional value.

• Cooked chicken, shrimp, shredded or ground beef, salmon, pepperoni, sausage

• Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic salt, oregano, basil, parsley, Mrs. Dash.

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; I use the 6 Italian cheese blend.

Veggies that work well with this recipe:

• Purple onion

• Broccoli

• Green pepper, red pepper, yellow peppers, choose one or more of these

• Tomatoes

• Fresh spinach

• Mushrooms

• Zucchini

This meal is prepared in a skillet on the stovetop. . You will need a cover for the skillet. You will also need a broiler in an oven, as you will be broiling the top of the tortilla.

Assemble all the ingredients. Wash the veggies very well. The recent e-coli outbreak is a good reason to scrub those veggies. Dry the veggies, then chop the ones you plan to use in very small pieces. You can use a food chopper but do not chop too small. ¼ inch pieces are perfect. I use a sharp knife for chopping.

Remove the seeds from the tomato and the peppers before chopping. Slice the spinach leaves into thin strips. The veggies cook more evenly if they are in smaller pieces.

I use cooked canned chunks of chicken. You can use left over meats or chicken. You can also use only vegetables in this recipe. You can also use other types of cheeses that melt well.

Take one tortilla and oil both sides and place the tortilla in the skillet. Make sure the skillet is lightly oiled. Use olive oil or spray Pam. Season the tortilla in the skillet and add ½ of the cheese on the tortilla. Add the veggies and meats of your choice and. Add more seasonings on top of the veggies. Now add the remainder of the cheese on top of the veggies and chicken. The melted cheese will bind the ingredients so they don’t slip off the tortilla.

Heat the tortilla on medium heat on the stove. Cover the skillet, so the heat stays in and starts cooking the veggies. When the bottom of the tortilla is brown and crisp move the skillet under the broiler on high heat. Never leave the food on the stove unattended. I have burned a few meals by thinking I could walk away for just a moment. Leave the oven open while broiling and turn the skillet handle away from direct heat. Watch closely as the cheese on top will brown quickly.

Carefully slide the cooked tortilla to a cutting board or large plate. Cut in squares or pie style slices with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Serve hot or room temperature. I refrigerate extra tortillas to reheat for lunch or healthy snacks. This is a perfect pot luck dish. Your family will be getting the servings of fresh vegetables in a tasty recipe.

I hope you enjoy the tortilla pizzas. Share one with a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or just make one for you. If you are not the greatest cook, perhaps your tortilla will make someone laugh. Please remember to cook with love in your heart and spread the Aloha Spirit where ever you live.

I wish everyone the wish of more laughter for 2007.

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