On a trip to Mexico City, I watched restaurateur Maricarmen Ramirez make melt-in-your mouth sopes — little corn tortillas filled with a spicy black bean spread, roasted chicken, lettuce and cheese.“It’s a one of the dishes I use for the altar for the Day of the Dead,” Maricarmen said as she made the sopes with lightning speed.As we celebrate Halloween, Mexicans look forward to their feast of the Day of the Dead. On Sunday and Monday, the spirits of the dead are expected to pay a visit, and food is prepared to sustain them on the journey.“We build altars and fill them with the favorite foods of our departed loved ones and place “calaberitas,” sugar skulls with their names on the forehead, near the food.“For us it is a happy holiday celebrating the dead. It has also grown into a time when we go to visit friends and loved ones and take them sugar skulls to say that we are thinking of them and wish them good health.”Although sopes are usually served as appetizers, I’ve adapted Maricarmen’s recipe to make this simple, tasty Mexican dinner.

MEXICAN SOPES (Layered Open Tortilla Sandwiches)—Yield: 2 servings

2 teaspoons canola oil1/2 cup diced red onion4 (6-inch) corn tortillas1/2 cup black bean dip1 cup shredded lettuce1/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey jack cheese3/4 pound roasted or rotisserie chicken breast, skin and bones removed1 cup tomato salsa

Procedure:1. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until it starts to shrivel, about 2 minutes. Remove to bowl.2. Return skillet to medium heat. Add tortillas and warm for half a minute. Turn each over and spread with black bean mixture. Sprinkle each with onion, then layer with lettuce, cheese and chicken. Remove to dinner plates. Spoon salsa on top or serve on the side.

Nutrition data per serving: 489 calories (21 percent from fat), 11.3 g fat (3.2 g saturated, 4.5 g monounsaturated), 105 mg cholesterol, 52.8 g protein, 44.1 g carbohydrates, 10.2 g fiber, 1,210 mg sodium.

If the classic PB&J sandwich is here to stay in your kids diet you can at least makes some changes to keep it interesting. These Peanut Butter and Jelly Truffles have all the familiar flavor in a fun and unique shape. Coatings can be tailored to your child’s taste. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS