first pour the beans in a big bowl and scoop through them and make sure there are no ugly ones or bad ones. Then what I do is fill the bowl with cold water and rub the beans through my hands really good for a few minutes (this will get all the dirt and stuff off them). Drain them and put them back in the bowl and cover them with at least three inches of water and let them sit overnight. If this sounds like alot to do it's not, it only takes a few minutes and it's worth it.

The next morning drain them from whatever water is left and put them in a big pot. Add enough water to cover them again by a couple of inches. I toss an onion in there that is cut in half, a good shaking of salt and pepper and if you want some garlic cloves and turn in on. When it starts to boil turn it down until it's simmering pretty good. Cook them until they are soft. The beans will be nice and water will be a bit thicker from the starch.

If you want to refry them, heat a pan with a little oil and put a couple of scoops of the beans with the water in there (not too much water) and mash them until they are as thick as you like.

I make them 2 or 3 times a month and sometimes freeze half a batch after they are cooled. They freeze real good and taste even better when you thaw them and reheat them.

What can I say...I'm a mexican chick and my grandma always said you gotta know how to make a good pot of beans.!