Instructions

1. 1
   If using dried beans, wash them then cover with water in a medium pot and simmer according to the package directions. You may add onion halves or a ham bone, which you can remove at the end.
2. 2
   If using canned beans, rinse them briefly before use.
3. 3
   Smash the beans, perhaps with a potato masher.
4. 4
   Add home-rendered lard or butter, totaling up to 20% of the total (25% of the amount prior to adding). You may also use a substantially smaller amount of some other oil or omit it entirely.
5. 5
   Fry the beans, stirring and turning them until they thicken to the degree you desire, which can be anywhere from soupy to parched.