NEXT Thursday sees the start of the three-day Chinese new year celebrations, when the ferocious year of the tiger gives way to the much calmer year of the rabbit.

Apparently, this means we are all in for a more leisurely year, with less stress and worry than the previous 12 months. Good taste is one of the main features of rabbit years, so you can give yourself a head start in this by heading to your next Worcestershire farmers’ market.

You will find all sorts of great tasting foods on all the stalls, with plenty of opportunities to try new things, buy old favourites and enjoy the very best that the county has to offer.

There are no farmers’ markets this weekend, so you will have to wait until next Saturday to treat yourself. To keep up the Chinese theme, try this recipe for a quick and simple stir fry.

Some of the seasoning will have to come from your store cupboard but you will find the pork and most of the vegetables at your next farmers’ market.

STIR FRIED PORK – serves four

INGREDIENTS

500g free range pork, diced or sliced cooking oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 large onion, peeled and cut into wedges
1 small head broccoli (or other green veg), broken into small florets
2 carrots, sliced
500g noodles of cooked noodles
Satay, sweet chilli, teriyaki or other sauce

METHOD Put a small amount of oil in a large pan or wok. Stir fry onion, garlic and ginger for a few minutes. Add pork and stir fry until cooked through. Remove from pan. Stir fry the vegetables, adding the carrots first, until just cooked but still crunchy. Return pork to the pan. Add the noodles to the mixture with the sauce, stir through to heat thoroughly. Serve.

Your next Worcestershire farmers’ market is in Victoria Square, Droitwich, on Saturday, February 5, from 9am until 2pm and in Angel Place, Worcester, on Sunday, February 6, from 9am until 3pm. The following weekend stallholders will be in High Street, Bromsgrove, on Saturday, February 12, from 9am until 5pm.