THERE are times at which all of us need a little helping hand in the kitchen. Busy people with hectic lives don’t always have the time – or energy – to cook ‘proper’ meals at home. Whether you are cooking for one, two or many, some days it is just not possible.

This is why Andrew Keysell, of Rochford Meats, is trying out a new idea at Worcestershire farmers’ markets. He said: “We’ve decided to try farmprepared meals to see whether our customers like the idea.

“We’re trialing home-made chilli con carne. We use a family recipe that we prepare in our own kitchen. It’s 70 per cent beef mince, with plenty of onions, peppers, kidney beans, peppers, chilli and tomato sauce.

“We bring it prepared to the market and people can have as much as they would like – from a single portion scoop, to enough to feed a large family. It’s uncooked and you simply take it home and cook it yourself.”

Mr Keysell and his wife Cheryl have other family favourite recipes planned if the idea takes off. He said: “A stew or hotpot would be next on the list, or perhaps a beef curry.

Cheryl makes a fantastic beef curry with spinach and almonds that we love.”

While sausages, burgers and bacon are not full meals, they are certainly a good starting point for a quick and easy home cooked meal. The varieties of these available at your farmers’ market is astonishing.

Rochford Meats has, among others, saddleback sausages and bacon, pork and leek ones and pork and cracked black pepper, as well as dry cured, streaky, smoked back and smoked streak bacon.

Henry Wormington, of Vicarage Farm, Hanbury, near Droitwich, also has a wide choice of sausages and burgers.

He said: “Most of our sausages and burgers are gluten-free.

Flavours include pork and leek, red onion or apple, black pudding and Guinness, and lamb with mint or redcurrant.”

You could also head for the Tudge Meats stall for a whole chicken for an easy roast, or pick up a delicious quiche or a few pastry slices from the Taste Buds stall. Country Markets has a savoury section with quiches, vegetarian plaits, potato and leek pie and homity pie.

Today’s farmers’ market is in Abbey Road, Malvern, from 9am until 2pm. Tomorrow’s market is in Angel Place, Worcester, from 9am until 3pm.