It's a new year, so many of us have made resolutions. (Some folks, of course, only resolve every year not to make resolutions!) And the majority of those promises to ourselves involve improving our health: losing weight, exercising more, eating a more nutritious diet, etc. We may have other goals as well, but the food-related ones always seem to be paramount.

So today I'm offering a dish that features both vegetables and fruit, but it's got more flavor than the boring ol' carrot sticks that might have found their way to your refrigerator. This can be a side dish for meat or fish, it can be served over rice, it can be a tortilla filling... enjoy it any way you like!

Beer-Braised Peppers and Papaya

1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 small red pepper, seeded, cut into strips 1 small yellow pepper, seeded, cut into strips 1 small red onion, halved, sliced 1 small yellow onion, halved, sliced 1 small papaya, peeled, seeded, cut into strips 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/3 cup beer (alcoholic or not, either is fine)

Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add red pepper flakes, red and yellow peppers, red and yellow onion; saute until tender and slightly caramelized, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add papaya and salt. Add beer, bring to a boil, and cook until liquid has evaporated, stirring frequently.

Makes 2 cups.

Mary Bilyeu writes about her adventures in the kitchen - making dinner, celebrating holidays, entering cooking contests ... whatever strikes her fancy. She is also on a mission to find great deals for her Frugal Floozie Friday posts, seeking fabulous food at restaurants on the limited budget of only $5 per person. Feel free to email her with questions or comments or suggestions: yentamary@gmail.com.

You should also visit Mary's blog — Food Floozie — on which she enthuses and effuses over all things food-related.

The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured in this post) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15 and is a wish for all her readers - when you come to visit here, may you always be happy.