Christmas Carollers' Casserole: Elizabethan Spiced Beef Stew - Lavender and Lovage

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 100g dried prunes (pitted)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 300 ml red wine (or beef stock)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 750g stewing beef, or brisket (trimmed of fat and cubed)
• 1 large onion, peeled and sliced
• 50g cooked and peeled chestnuts