Sweet Fritters with Red Wine and Star Anise Sauce

Many home cooks shy away from deep frying both because it is a little intimidating and because it can be messy. Neither need be the case. The key to deep frying is making sure that the oil is always in what I call the “magic range” of 350 to 375°F. This requires that you get yourself a deep fry thermometer—one that clips right on the side of the pot so that you can easily monitor temperature. Don’t drop anything in until the temperature is in the magic range; stop adding ingredients when it