Mulled Red Wine Syrup
Serving Size: 1/2 Cup.
Notes: Wine that's been sitting out is fine for mulled wine syrup; cheap wine is perfect. You can even use a mix of varietals and vintages, and you'll never know the difference. This garnet-colored syrup can be drizzled over ice cream, poured on pancakes, and folded into thick, full-cream yogurt. Chill it in plastic squeeze bottles in the refrigerator and pull it out for streaks and squirts on various dishes, not all of them sweet.
Category : Winter Holiday Open House
1 1/2 cup Red Wine -- Any Variety
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 whole Star Anise -- Or 1 Tsp Chinese 5 Spice
1 teaspoon Pink Peppercorns
Combine the wine, sugar, vanilla bean, star anise and pink peppercorns in a wide pot or skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium; cook for 10 to 20 minutes or until the liquid becomes syrupy and has reduced by about two-thirds.
Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the syrup into a small container; discard the spices and let cool. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate indefinitely.
