Beer and Onion Gravy

1½ lb onions, sliced thinly 1 pinchsugar 2 Tbsp butter or margarine 1 Tbsp flour 2¼ cbrown ale (or beer of choice) 2¼ cbeef broth ½ star anise 2 cloves 2 bay leaves

1. Heat butter in a large saucepan,add the onions and sugar and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and richly caramelized. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. 2. Stir in the beer, beef broth, star anise, cloves and bay leaves and boil vigorously until reduced to a rich, glossy sauce - about 20 minutes in a large sauté pan. 3. Remove the star anise, bayleaves and cloves from the gravy and season to taste with some salt and pepper.