Dan Abel wrote:

> Take a half pound of beans in a saucepan. Check for rocks and dirt
> clods. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Shut off heat and leave
> for a minute. Drain (that's supposed to reduce gas). Add water to more
> than cover. Heat to boiling again. Turn heat way down and simmer. Put
> in a clove of garlic cut in half. Simmer for two hours. Add water and
> crank up to boiling again as needed along the way. Taste and salt as
> needed. Fish out the garlic halves and toss them. Serve with slotted
> spoon.
>
> We have to add a pinch of baking powder with the second dose of water
> because our water is hard and they just won't get soft in a reasonable
> time otherwise.
>

Ok.. now what is added to make refried beans? I know lard, but what
quantities and when and how? Anything else?
Goomba