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THIS year, The Country Living Show in Islington, which runs from March 23-27, looks like one of the most exciting and should not be missed.   

Three stands have caught my eye. One is the Jam Jar Shop. How many times have you wanted to make jam, chutneys or pot honey and do not have matching jars? 

Well, here is your chance to clean up. Chuck all your odd matching jars into recycling, and they will be used to make these ones. 

They won the best new product last year and changed over night from a two-man band to having two warehouses, 12 staff and now the largest retailer of glass jars in the UK. What an amazing achievement, especially in these hard times! 

Check out their stand M114 on the ground floor, and have a chat with Pam ‘the Jam’ Corbin from the Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall TV shows. 

Why not try the two recipes that they have given below?  

 Also, at the show is the new range of dog foods called Laughing Dog. This is a family-run business from a farm in Lincolnshire and contains all very healthy ingredients and looks a great stand to visit... if you have a dog! 

One other exhibitor that caught my eye was Auberge du Chocolat, as they teach adults and children to make their own Easter gifts out of chocolate. 

They are well worth a visit!    

  

The wholegrain mustard is really, really simple, as most mustards are, and won the Jam Jar Shop a Gold Taste Award.

225g jam jars

200g yellow mustard seeds

200g black mustard seed

6fl oz cider vinegar

1 bottle lager, beer or stout

1 tablespoon sea salt

6 tbsp runny honey, organic,

1 tbsp freshly grated nutmeg.

 

Soak the seeds in the beer overnight. 

The next day, add all remaining ingredients and then whizz in a blender to the desired consistency. 

Stir well and then spoon into the jam jars.  Take great care to remove any air pockets in the jar before sealing. Label and date. Mature for two weeks. 
 

This recipe was devised to serve with a lamb roast, so they need a mint-based chutney to complement. 

This is now one of their bestsellers. Blended with plain yoghurt, it also makes a great raita to go with curries.

 

340g jam jars

5lbs courgettes, top and tail and dice into 1cm pieces

1lb onions, peeled and chopped finely

1lb granulated sugar

2 teasp ground ginger

2 tbsp black mustard seed

1 tsp fennel seeds

1lb chopped green beans

1 pint distilled vinegar

2 teaspoons salt

Large bowl mint 
 

Sprinkle the chopped courgettes with salt and leave overnight. 

Rinse and drain thoroughly. Mix all ingredients in a saucepan, except the mint, and then simmer gently until reduced and soft. Pick the mint leaves from the stalks, then chop the leaves finely. 

Add half of the mint and cook for a further for 30 mins over a low heat. 

Add the remaining mint and stir thoroughly. Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal. Label and date.
 

• The Country Living Show, 23-17 March, Business Design Centre, Upper Street, N1. Tickets: 0844 848 0152

www.countrylivingfair.com/spring/
SPECIAL OFFER:

YOU can take advantage of a ticket offer to see The Country Living Show. Call 0844 848 0160 quoting CLSPRING 1 to visit the show for the special price of £11.50, as opposed to the ticket price on the door, which is £16. Tickets must be booked no later than 1pm on the day before the due visit and there will be a 95p booking fee per booking (not per ticket).