As far as chiles go, poblano peppers rank among the milder varieties, though they still offer a nice zing. To counter the spice, serve with a mixed-greens salad.
For genuine barbecue flavor, couple this spicy tofu with crunchy slaw and serve as a sandwich or wrapped in a large leaf of lettuce with sliced tomato and red onion.
Once eaten only by emperors in China, black-grain forbidden rice can be found in natural-foods stores. You can be creative with this recipe by adding chopped nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or toasted pine nuts. For more color, garnish with chopped parsley.
Baked tofu -- made by pressing water out of fresh tofu, marinating it in seasonings, and baking it -- is in most supermarkets and natural-foods stores.
Because they're high in soluble fiber, beans are a cholesterol fighter's best friend. We like the black-bean and chickpea combination, but feel free to use your favorites.