What should I cook today? GialloZafferano’s menu for Monday, November 9

Today’s menu brings together five recipes suited to November, including home-cooking classics, autumn flavors, and easy preparations. We start with croque monsieur, a hearty French toast with a melty filling and golden gratin topping, then move on to pasta with pumpkin, a creamy first course with smoked pancetta and ricotta. For the main course, there is bollito, a great classic of Italian cuisine with tender meat and vegetables, served with boiled carrots with sesame and soy sauce. To finish, a tall, soft chocolate cake, also excellent served for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Croque monsieur is a simple, hearty appetizer made with sandwich bread, ham, cheese, and béchamel. This famous French street food is a rich toast, marked by a melty filling and a nicely golden gratin topping that makes it instantly inviting. It is a great bistro classic, often paired with croque madame, the version finished with a fried egg. Served freshly made, it is at its best while still hot!

Pasta with pumpkin is a rich, creamy first course, perfect for bringing an ingredient that is a star of the fall season to the table. The sweetness of the pumpkin pairs with the bold flavor of smoked pancetta, while the ricotta makes the sauce soft and velvety. The result is a tasty, easy-to-prepare pasta in which every ingredient helps create a pleasant balance of flavors. Farfalle catch the sauce perfectly, for a simple but truly appetizing dish.

Bollito is a traditional, wholesome main course made with beef plate and fresh vegetables cooked slowly. It is one of the great classics of Italian cuisine and relies entirely on the quality of the ingredients and gentle cooking, which makes the meat tender and flavorful. Plus, the meat broth obtained during preparation can be served along with the rest of the meal or set aside for other recipes, such as a good risotto!

Boiled carrots are a simple, light side dish, enriched with an original dressing that makes them even tastier. Their natural sweetness pairs with a creamy sauce made with tahini, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, and lemon juice, which gives the dish a pleasant Asian-inspired touch. Cooking the carrots keeps them tender and preserves their bright color, while the sauce adds character and flavor. A delicious way to bring an everyday vegetable to the table, ideal served with a meat main course like bollito.

Chocolate cake is a great classic of home baking, loved for its soft texture and intense flavor of cocoa and dark chocolate. Tall, tender, and fragrant, it is one of those simple preparations that always pleases everyone. Excellent enjoyed plain, it can be enriched with a dusting of powdered sugar or served with whipped cream, pastry cream, or berries for an even more indulgent dessert. Perfect for breakfast and an afternoon snack, it is also an excellent choice for ending the meal on a sweet note.