Anise Spiced Mulled Wine Food

MULLED WINE SPICE -- GIFT MIX

Steps:

• Mix all of the ingredients and fill into a cleaned and sterilised jar (I used a small jam jar for this).
• Tie with a pretty ribbon and attach a gift tag with the following instructions:.
• Empty the contents of the wine bottle and of the spice mix jar into a pot. Heat on medium until nearly boiling, but DO NOT boil. Heat for 30 minutes, then strain the mulled wine and return it to the pot. Keep it warm if you want to serve it straight away, if not allow to cool and reheat when ready to use. You can also add some rum for a stronger version.

MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each and serve.

SLOW-COOKER MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Wrap the cloves, star anise and cinnamon in a small square of cheesecloth and secure it with kitchen twine.
• Combine the wine, sugar if using, orange zest, orange juice, rosemary and the spice pouch in a slow cooker. Cook on low heat until hot, about 1 hour. Adjust the slow cooker to the "warm" setting. Serve in mugs with a rosemary sprig as garnish.

MULLED WINE

Steps:

• Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins.
• Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.
• To serve, heat without boiling, stir in the sloe gin (if using, see tip below) and pour into mugs or heatproof glasses.

MULLED SPICED WINE

Steps:

• Bring the wine, port, water, vanilla, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, orange peel or whole orange cut in half, lemon peel or whole lemon cut in half, hibiscus flowers and sugar to a simmer in a nonreactive saucepan.
• Or place in a slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours.
• Simmer the mixture slowly for 15 minutes.
• Strain and place into Heat resistant punch bowl or keep in crock pot and keep on low.
• Place 1 blanched almond and several raisins or fresh cranberries in the bottom of each punch glass.
• Pour the warm wine mixture over and serve.