Cut up the  cabbage, put in bowl of water.  

Cut up some onion and cook in butter until soft, then take
cabbage out of water  ( still wet), and put in pot, stir and cover.

Cook for abut 10 minutes, to steam it a little, then add about 1/2 c
water, a bay leaf, 3 or 4 whole cloves, an apple chopped, and let cook
covered on low heat for about 1 1/2 hours.  Watch so it doesn't burn.