Rita Haritakis of Doctors in Greece for Responsible Medicine, Athens, Greece.

Quick Black Bean Soup

1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 16-ounce can frijoles negros (black turtle beans)
Salsa, to taste

Simmer onion in the stock until tender. Add the beans and heat through. Serve with salsa. Virginia Messina, RD, MPH

Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups white flour
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 cup cold water

In an 8-inch, round cake pan, stir together the dry ingredi-ents. Make 3 holes in the flour mixture. Pour the oil into the first hole, the vanilla into the second, and the vinegar into the third. Pour the water over the whole pan and mix with a wooden spoon until the batter is thoroughly mixed.

Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.

No-Cholesterol French Toast

3 tablespoons flax seeds (look for these in natural foods stores)
1/2 cup water
1 cup plain soymilk
8 slices whole grain bread

In a blender, grind the flax seeds until they are a powder. Add the water and blend for one minute. Beat the flax seed mixture into the soymilk. Dip the bread in this mixture and cook until browned in a non-stick skillet. Serve with maple syrup or applesauce.