Mulled wine from Jamie Oliver

ingredients:

- one lime
- one lemon

- 200g castor sugar

- 6 whole cloves

- 1 cinnamon stick

- 3 bay leaves

- 1 whole nutmeg for grating

- 1 vanilla pod

- 2 bottle of italian red wine

- 2 star anise

method:

- peel large sections of peel from the clementines, lemon and line using a speed-peeler

- put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice

- add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg.  Halve the vanilla pod lengthways and add to the pan, then stir in just enough red wind to cover the sugar

- let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, then bring to the boil.  Keep on a rolling boil for about four to five minutes or until u hv got a beautiful thick syrup

- the reason I am doing this first is to create a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine.  Jamie explained

- it is important to make a syrup base first beco it needs to be quite hot, and if u do this with both bottles of wine in there u will burn off the alcohol

- when your syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and the rest of the wine.  Gently heat the wine and after around five minutes, when it is warm and delicious, ladle it into heatproof glasses and serve

 

He explained, when it comes to mulled wine, i have a simple rule: always make more than u think will u will.  Whenever i go to a party it always seems to run out.  If u are worried about wasting any leftovers, don't be.  You can pour it into ice cube travs and it will keep for months if u freeze it.  Then, whenever anyone says, "oh, I feel like desert" you can just pop some cubes out and make this lovely little sorbet for a totally unexpected treat."

- 2 ice cube trays frozen mulled wine

- 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt or creme fraiche