Instructions: Place the shallots, garlic, almond extract, thyme, basil, zest, cloves, mace, pepper, salt, wine, lemon juice and Madeira in a slow cooker. Cook at low setting 6 hours. (Or, pour the sauce into an ovenproof dish with a tight-fitting lid. Place in a 200-degree oven for 6 hours.)

Strain the sauce, discarding the solids. Store the sauce in a tightly sealed container.

This recipe yields 3 1/2 cups.

Comments: General Sauce is a mild, elegant flavoring for melted butter. The original recipe called for a few somewhat rare ingredients: lemon thyme, peach leaf (easily replaced by almond extract) and long pepper, which is available at Ethiopian markets; black pepper can substitute for it. California Madeira works perfectly well in this sauce.

Yield: 3 1/2 cups

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