How should I season beans?

I bought a bag of lovely looking dried beans from a health food store.  Any suggestions for seasonings?

There are red and black kidney beans, black eyed peas, and some other stuff.

I may just stick with salt and pepper. Choices choices...

Anyone out there been cookin' beans? 

Onion, garlic, bay leaves, parsley, thyme, oregano, celery, carrots, tomatoes, chillies, a dash of vinegar...take your pick! I wouldn't do all of them at once, personally, but beans are pretty versatile.

Keep in mind that different varieties may cook at different rates, so be sure to check that they're all done.

The received wisdom is that you shouldn't salt them whilst they are cooking as it toughens the skins.  I've never experimented to see how true this is but every one says it so I save the salt until the end.

I quite like to cook my beans quite plainly and then dress them with a light vinaigrette.

Lots of herbs and some veg or chicken stock.

Garlic! Lots of it! 

I'm also on a bit of a mediteranean kick lately - cumin and cinnamon in particular.

Or cumin, paprika, and chili powder work nicely together.

Last night on a cooks tour of Spain Tommi said not to salt them while boiling them, it ruins their texture.

Bacon! Bacon! More bacon!

Bacon! Bacon! More bacon!

Yep.  If you eat red meat, ham bones work well too.

   So the keys are...bacon bacon and bacon and garlic garlic and more garlic...

hmmm....

And no salt until the very end.  Which is a new one. I'm so used to cooking with salt in the water/broth/whatever to avoid seasoning later. hmm. Choices, choices, choices.

The salt thing is a bit controversial--some food scientists say it's not salt that's a problem, but acid. I haven't done a controlled experiment myself, but I've started salting about halfway through the cooking time if I'm around (I usually use a slow cooker). The beans are tastier that way and I haven't noticed any problems with softening.

NB if you soak your beans in water overnight, they cook quicker!

Think this is what I'll do...

Cook the beans, cook some quinoa. Combine and serve.

Beans to be cooked with some of the stock from the lamb (There was too much liquid in the braising pot so I've got some left) add some bay leaf, garlic, and thyme.