1 Prepare The Beans. Rinse And Sort The Beans, Discarding Any Stones Or Shriveled Beans. You Can Soak The Beans Overnight In Cold Water (Cover With Several Inches Of Water) Or Pour Enough Boiling Water Over Them To Cover By A Few Inches And Soak Them For An Hour Or Skip The Pre-Soaking Step. Soaking Will Speed Up The Cooking Process. If You Soak, Discard The Soaking Liquid After Soaking. 2 Add Beans To A Large Pot With 2 1/2 Quarts (10 Cups) Of Water. Add Oregano, Bay Leaves, And Sage. Bring The Beans To A Boil And Reduce Heat To A Simmer. Cook Until The Beans Are Soft, But Not Quite Done. The Time Will Vary Depending On How Large, Dry, Or Old Your Beans Are, And If You Have Pre-Soaked Them, From Anywhere From 30 Minutes To An Hour And A Half. 3 While The Beans Are Cooking, Saut