Mulled white wine

“What though youth gave love and roses, Age still leaves us friends and wine”

Thomas More

Serves 6 750ml white wine 1 vanilla pod, cut in half lengthways 1 cinnamon stick 40g caster sugar 2 cloves zest and juice of 2 lemons 2 star anise, plus 4 to decorate

Pour the wine into a large saucepan, then add the vanilla pod. Mix in the cinnamon stick, sugar, cloves, lemon zest and juice, and the 2 star anise. Simmer for 10 mins, then, using a ladle, divide between 6 glasses, and serve, adding the 4 extra star anise so there is 1 in each glass.