Cherries in Red Wine Syrup

Ingredients

• 2 cups red wine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 star anise pod
• 2 strips orange zest, optional
• 2 pounds fresh cherries, pitted

Directions

1. Combine the cherries and sugar in a large, wide saucepan.
2. In a small bowl, stir 1 tablespoon of the red wine with the corn or potato starch until the starch is fully dissolved, then place it nearby.
3. Pour the remaining wine and the vinegar into the saucepan. Raise the heat until the mixture boils, then lower it to a gentle boil and cook for about 12 minutes, stirring often, until the cherries have slumped completely and are tender all the way through.
4. Near the end of the cooking time, stir in the starch mixture and keep it boiling for 1 minute or so longer, just enough to make the juices thicken.
5. Remove the pan from the heat, then stir in the almond extract and the kirsch, if you’re using it.