Yuletide Corned Beef

• 4 pounds corned beef brisket
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• Cranberry Sauce to top cooked beef

Preheat oven to 265 degrees F. If the corned beef came with a packet of seasoning and spices, you can discard it or save it for another meal; you won't need it here. Rinse the corned beef brisket, and place in an enameled cast iron dutch oven. (The acidity of the orange juice can affect the seasoning in a bare iron pot, which is why an enameled cooking pot should be used.) Add spices as listed: parsley, mustard, garlic, thyme, pepper, nutmeg. Spread diced onion over the brisket, add butter on top. Pour orange juice into the pot. Add sliced apples on the top of the onions. Cover the pot and place in the preheated oven. Cook for 8 hours. Serve beef with Cranberry Sauce topping. Mashed potatoes make a good accompanying side dish.