IT IS often said that, when one door closes another opens, and that has certainly held true for one Teesdale couple whose business venture was sparked by compliments over the dinner table.

Dorothy and Richard Ritzema have lived at Wildon Grange, near Romaldkirk, since 2000.

Both from local farming stock, they lived in the Middle East for a number of years before settling at Mr Ritzema's family home in the wake of the September 11 atrocity.

He set up a wood workshop there, specialising in bespoke chopping boards, and also designed a clothes airer to fit Aga cookers, which is now under consideration by the company. Mrs Ritzema set up a bed and breakfast business.

"We took a stall at Stokesley and Leyburn farmers' markets, but it's not every day someone buys a chopping board or a rail for the Aga," said Mrs Ritzema. "We needed regular customers and a smaller product, but it was knowing what."

It was while chatting over a family meal that her sister-in-law, Lea Darling, who now stocks the dressings at Burtree House Farm in Darlington, came up with the answer.

"She said I should market my salad dressing because everybody liked it, so I fiddled about with the recipe until I could consistently repeat it," said Mrs Ritzema. "I also received a lot of encouragement from Jackie at Eliot's Wholefoods in Barnard Castle, which gave me confidence to think it might work."

Marketed under the Wildon Grange label, the first was christened Dot's Delicious Homemade Salad Dressing. It is flavoured with mustard and herbs, and can also be drizzled on new potatoes and avocados or used as a mild marinade

It was swiftly followed by George's Gorgeous dressing, which won a bronze award in the Guild of Fine Food Retailers' Great Taste Award 2004. It is a blend of garlic and mustard contrasted with honey and can also be mixed with cream cheese or whipped cream to make a dip.

"I was overwhelmed with the award because I didn't have to mess about with that recipe at all, it seemed to come right first time," said Mrs Ritzema.

Both varieties went on sale at Leyburn farmers' market in January, 2003, where they sold 13 bottles. "That led to repeat customers, and that was such a thrill," she added. "We offer tasters on our stall and most who try, go on to buy.

"Our customers now tell us their different uses. One drizzles my Leo's Luscious dressing - which contains balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mustard, orange and lemon - on teacakes, but I haven't tried that myself yet."

There are now five dressings, all alliteratively named, the other two being Izzy's Interesting Italian and Simon's Scrumptious, but there are no plans to add any more as Mrs Ritzema believes in quality above quantity. Izzy's can be used to dress up a jacket potato or pasta, while Simon's, made with a low-calorie sugar substitute, is suitable for diabetics.

She has however, added two further products: Richard's Ravishing red onion marmalade, which is slow-cooked to bring out the flavours, and Charlie's Chunky cranberry relish for meat and cheese or for use in gravy.

"I get my ideas from messing about in the kitchen with what I've got to hand," she said. "I try a pinch of this and a dash of that, writing it down as I go until I get it right, because, if I don't like a taste, how can I expect my customers to?"

As well as selling at farmers' markets, the couple take their products to food festivals where, once tasted, stockists are keen to buy - so much so that they are now on sale in Yorkshire, County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland.

Mrs Ritzema makes all the dressings, which involve no cooking, only mixing, in her Romaldkirk kitchen, making a batch of half a dozen or so of each flavour at a time so that there is a consistent taste and constant supply. They need no refrigeration and will keep for a year while sealed and up to six weeks once opened. This week she is working on an order for 60 bottles.

Local stockists include Thorpe Farm at Greta Bridge; Elliot's Wholefoods, Barnard Castle; the Farmer's Cart, Towthorpe; Cotherstone Post Office; Armitage's, Middleton in Teesdale; Burtree House Farm, Darlington; Lewis and Cooper at Northallerton and Yarm; Moorhouse Farm Shop, Stannington; Katie's Kitchen, Sedgefield; Teesdale Game in Durham Indoor Market; Grant's Farm Shop, Sessay; The Smithy, Baldersby, and the Village Shop, Middleton Tyas.

Further details are available by calling 01833 650587 or on www.wildongrange.co.uk.