To make the brine:

Place 2 quarts of water in a 6-8 quart stock pot and start to heat. Add the Inland Empire Spice Corned Beef Seasoning & Cure to form the brine. While this mixture heats, crush the spices from the Inland Empire Spice Corned Beef Spice Kit into a small bowl and mix together. Add these to the brine. Heat the brine until all the salt and sugar from the seasoning mix have dissolved, and the brine is gently steaming. No need to bring to a full boil. Remove from heat and add ice, stirring until all the ice melts. Place the pot with the brine in the refrigerator and continue to cool until it is below 45 degrees F. 

Prepare your brisket by rinsing under cold water and trimming excess fat. (Leave some fat on the "fat side" of the brisket, to help keep the meat from getting tough.) Use a fork to poke holes through the fat on the fat side, so the brine can penetrate more easily. Place the brisket in a 2.5-gallon ziplock bag, and pour the chilled brine in as well. Zip seal the bag very well. Place the bag in a large plastic container with a lid (to catch leaks from the bag.) Cover and refrigerate for 10 days, flipping once daily to ensure that the brine concentration stays consistent and all parts of the brisket remain submerged.

After 10 days, it's decision time. Are you making corned beef to slice for sandwiches? Or are you making corned beef and cabbage as a traditional St. Patty's Day Meal?

While you are deciding, remove the cured brisket from the brine and discard the brine. Rinse the brisket under cold water. If your brisket is HUGE, or you are indecisive, cut it in two pieces and make BOTH versions below. 

If you want corned beef for sandwiches, put the brisket in a large stock pot, cover with water until covered by at least one inch, and heat to boiling. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for three hours. Remove the corned beef to a cutting board and let it rest for about 10 minutes, then slice as needed for sandwiches.

If you are after falling-apart tender corned beef and vegetables, add the brined brisket to a slow cooker and cook on low all day, a minimum of 8 hours. For the last 2 hours, add any vegetables you want, such as those listed above. When everything smells and looks done, remove the corned beef and slice, then serve immediately with the cooked vegetables.