Cut up the bacon into little ?-inch pieces and fry slowly in the bottom of a large pot while you... Peel the onion and stab the cloves into it (15-30 cloves). Put the onion into the pot and let it warm with the bacon while you... Cut up the cabbage into roughly bite-sized chunks - somewhat thicker slices than for slaw. Put the cabbage in the pot and add enough water to about half-cover the cabbage; then turn the heat up high. But dont go away! Quarter, core and peel the apples. Toss them in on top of the cabbage with a small handful (about a 1/2 teaspoon) of salt. Sprinkle the lemon juice over it all. By this time the water should be boiling. Turn down the heat and put a lid on the pot. Go away and let it cook for 10 minutes. Stir n sniff. Cover and let it cook another 10 minutes. Now you can serve it "as is", or you can ladle out part of the liquid, thicken it with cornstarch or arrow-root, and stir it back in.