From weekly shops to smart shortcuts, food writer Laura Goodman explores how rising costs and busy lives are reshaping our family meals

■ Serves 8 ■ Prep 30 mins plus 10 mins resting ■ Cook 1 hr 500g kale, thick stalks discarded and roughly chopped1 tbsp each butter and olive oil2 onions, chopped3 garlic cloves, finely chopped750g ric

This take on pasta e ceci is like a hug in a bowl. It should be brothy, so add more water as it cooks if you need to. As it uses such humble ingredients, seasoning is key. A drizzle of good olive oil

(Polpette Della Quaresima) MAKES 12-16 Ingredients For the polpette 140g stale bread, very finelychopped40g grated Parmesan cheese300g ricotta, well-drained2 eggs, lightly beaten2 garlic cloves, finel

INGREDIENTS FOR THE POLPETTE ■ 140g stale bread, very finely chopped■ 40g grated Parmesan cheese■ 300g ricotta, well-drained■ 2 eggs, lightly beaten■ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped■ Handful of flat-l

For Cherie Denham , growing up on an Irish farm meant new-laid eggs featured in most family meals. Today, she whisks them into cakes, curds and custards to evoke a comforting taste of home