Autumn fruits in mulled wine

Ingredients

200ml/7fl oz full-bodied fruity red wine (like a New World Merlot)
1 small cinnamon stick
4 cloves
1 bay leaf
200g/7oz brown sugar
few strips of orange peel
4 ripe plums
2 ripe pears
200g/7oz blackberries, elderberries or blueberries

Method

1. Put the red wine into a pan with the cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, sugar and orange peel.
2. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for five minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
4. Meanwhile, quarter and stone the plums. Peel, halve and core the pears, then cut each half into six wedges.
5. Put all the fruits in a bowl and pour the mulled wine over them.
6. Cover and leave for at least two hours, stirring occasionally.
7. Serve at room temperature, with thick Jersey cream.