Place beans on countertop, pic, through beans removing any broken beans, rocks, or bits.

Place beans in a bowl, rinse repeatedly until water runs clear, Drain.

Combine beans, onion, garlic and bay leaf in a large saucepan or stockpot. Add water to cover the beans by at least 2 inches.

Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until beans are tender, about 1 to 1 ½ hour, adding additional water if needed. During the entire cooking process, you always want at least 2 inches of water covering your beans.

This will help to create your broth. At the end of 1 ½ hours, check the texture of your beans. They should be soft, not mushy or falling apart.

Once tender, season with salt to desired taste.

Serve warm, with cilantro, Pico de Gallo or avocado.