Mulled wine

Ingredients (Serves 6) ◆ 1.5 litres dry sparkling cider ◆ 50g light brown sugar zest and juice 1 orange ◆ 3 long cinnamon sticks, halved ◆ 8 cloves ◆ 2.5cm piece ginger, sliced ◆ ½tsp grated nutmeg ◆

New drinks and tipples to try

Ingredients (Makes 12) 200 g plain chocolate50 g unsalted butter225 g light or Genoa-style fruitcake, crumbled2 tsp mixed spice12 plastic lolly sticks50 g white chocolate chips25 g green coloured read

Boiling is where the ingredients are submerged in water and boiled at a fairly rapid heat (nearly 100°C). Due to the high temperature, the liquid is bubbling vigorously, turning to steam and reducing,

These delightful little gingerbread houses will perch perfectly on the edge of your mug. Try them with hot chocolate or mulled wine for adults. MAKES 8 PREP 30 mins plus cooling COOK 10 mins MORE EFFO

Once one of Britain’s most fashionable delicacies, the medlar fell from favour in the 20th century. Fabled and sweetly flavourful, it deserves to make a return to our gardens and kitchens, says Jane Steward