Hot Spiced Wine

Ingredients:

• • 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine (choose something fruity but not too sweet. Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon all work well; inexpensive wine works fine)

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 2 oranges - 1 zested and juiced, the other sliced for garnish

  • 5 whole cloves

  • 4 green cardamom pods

  • cinnamon sticks - put two in the wine and serve each glass with one as garnish

  • whole star anise - put four in the wine and serve each glass with one as garnish

Directions:

• 1. Add wine, honey, orange zest, and orange juice to a 3-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine. Put the cloves, cardamom, and anise in a sachet and put in the wine. Add cinnamon sticks to wine. Cook on high until warm, about one hour.

  2. Ladle into mugs and serve with an orange slice, star anise, and a cinnamon stick. To keep the wine warm, leave the slow cooker on the low setting.  Serve in small quantities so it stays warm while drinking.