Red Wine-Poached Cherries

• 500ml fruity red wine
• 1 cup (light) brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 whole vanilla pod, seeds scraped out and pod reserved
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Strips of skin of 1/2 an orange, using a vegetable peeler
• Strips of skin of 1/2 a lemon, using a vegetable peeler
• Pinch of salt
• Crushed seeds of 10 cardamom pods
• 1 dried red chili pepper
• 500g cherries, rinsed, de-stalked and pitted

1. Put the wine and sugar in a large pot and bring to the boil, stirring till the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add all the other ingredients, except the cherries and let simmer covered for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Take the cover off and boil on high for 5 minutes, till the liquid is reduced to about half its original volume. Adjust the sugar levels (adding more if required, but stirring well to dissolve)
3. Add the cherries and let simmer for 5-10 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit, till cool.
4. After the 'rest', store in clean kilner jars in the fridge, poaching liquid and all and use as needed.

red wine, brown sugar, vanilla powder, cinnamon sticks, skin of, salt, cardamom, red chili pepper, cherries

Taken from food52.com/recipes/5071-red-wine-poached-cherries (may not work)