CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With today's pizza recipe, I don't intend that you scuttle any plans for your traditional honey-glazed, cranberry-drizzled, or pineapple-and-clove studded ham for Easter.

It's just that the ham in the ingredients reminded me of the spring holiday. If you would like to go casual with your celebration, though, the island-themed pizza would be one way to travel.

Several pizzerias offer the same type of pie, but you might prefer to make your own, fine-tuning the ingredients to your taste and dietary requirements, instead of pickup or phone and deliver.

You may want a full-fat cheese treat on the pizza. If so, shred some gouda (smoked if you like it) over the top. Remember, not each and every bite has to be reduced-fat if you watch portions. As you have noticed by now from reading nutrition labels, often the lower the fat in a product, the higher the carbs.

With Easter near, I did refrain from suggestions of what to do with all those hard-boiled eggs you may come to have on hand.

But remembering the flurry of chocolate rabbits, foil-wrapped egg-shaped chocolates, the Reese's peanut butter egg and creamy-centered Cadbury that we've encountered in the stores since before Valentine's Day, I couldn't ignore chocolate in this column. Or chocolate and strawberries. With whipped cream.

You may switch the strawberries to raspberries or drained mandarin oranges. If using oranges, keep them whole to fold into cream, not mashed.

Even though the chocolate pie sounds decadent, the sugar-free and lightened ingredients keep it within bounds yet still perfect for all friends and family.

Reach Judy Grigoraci at ...@suddenlink.net.

Pizza Hawaiian

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

    1    thin crust Boboli pizza crust (regular or whole-wheat)

    1/2    cup bottled Ragu light Parmesan Alfredo sauce

    1/2    cup diced healthy selection baked ham

    1/2    cup diced fresh pineapple

    2    tablespoons chopped green onion top

    3/4    to 1 cup 2 percent milk, shredded cheddar, Swiss or Jack cheese

    Optional additional toppings: diced green or red bell pepper; halved grape tomatoes

PLACE crust on 12-inch pizza pan.

SPREAD with thin layer of Alfredo sauce.

SPRINKLE evenly with ham, pineapple, onion, pepper and tomato (if using) and cheese.

BAKE at 425° for 10 minutes or until hot and cheese melted. Serve right away.

Chocolate Pudding Pie with Strawberry Cream

Recipe from Diabetes Forecast magazine. Makes 10 servings.

Crust:

    2    cups crushed chocolate sugar-free sandwich cookies

    1    tablespoon light margarine, melted

    1    egg white

Filling:

    1    1.4-ounce package sugar-free chocolate instant pudding

    1 3/4    cups skim milk

Topping:

    3/4    cup frozen no-sugar-added strawberries, thawed and mashed

    1 3/4    cups light, fat-free or sugar-free whipped topping

    Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)

MIX crust ingredients well.

PRESS crumbs in bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray.

BAKE at 350° for 10 minutes; cool completely on wire rack.

WHISK pudding and milk as package directs and pour into crust. Allow filling to set somewhat.

FOLD in a medium bowl mashed berries into whipped topping.

SPREAD over chocolate layer.

REFRIGERATE until serving time. Garnish whole pie or individual slices with fresh strawberries, if desired.

Nutrition information: (1/9 recipe) 154 calories, 51 calories from fat, 6 grams fat, 1.6 grams saturated fat, 1 milligram cholesterol, 180 milligrams sodium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams protein.