It is Friday and I got home early. I was planning to have a chilled movie night – you know, the kind of night where you will have a list of 2-3 movies to watch in the company of yummy pizza and plenty of wine (oh, and don’t forget the candles). 

I have always liked mulled wine, and every time I have it, I can't have just one glass. So, my movie Friday night seemed to be a good night to have (let's say) a few glasses of mulled wine.

The kind I like is the sweet and very spicy mulled wine. The kind where you can still taste the alcohol and you can feel the nice peppery-hot sensation tingling down as you sip it.

Mulled Wine

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of good quality Merlot
• 3 cups of apple cider  
• 2 oranges, juiced
• 1 apple, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 star anise
• 4 cloves
• 1 teaspoon of whole peppercorns
• 1/4 cup of honey

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients except the wine in a medium sized pot. Bring to a bare simmer over medium-low heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the apples, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and peppercorn. Pour the bottle of wine and stir.

2. Divide between the glasses and garnish each with a cinnamon stick and an anise star, if desired.

TIP: The mixture (without the wine) could be done up to a day ahead. Keep in the refrigerator and when ready to enjoy, pour the wine and gently warm up.