Mulled wine

Ingredients

2 oranges

1 lemon

200g caster sugar

6 whole cloves

1 stick cinnamon

10 gratings of fresh nutmeg

1 star anise

2 bottles red wine

Method

1. I start by making a syrup base to avoid burning off all the alcohol in the making process. To do that add the sugar into a large saucepan that will eventually hold two bottles of wine and add in enough wine to just cover the sugar at this stage.

2. Wash the fruit. Using a vegetable peeler peel the peel from the oranges and lemons. Slice up the oranges and add to the pan. 

3. Add in the cloves, cinnamon, gratings of nutmeg either in a muslin bag or loose.

4. Bring to a simmer until the sugar has dissolved and then bring to a boil and boil for about 5-8 minutes until you have a thick syrup.  

5. When you are ready to serve add the rest of the wine. pop in your star anise. heat over a low heat for 5 minutes and then serve. 

To give as a gift, pop the cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg gratings, star anise in a muslin bag, attach along with the instructions to a bottle of wine.