Refried Black Beans – Very Easy, Healthy and Delicious Meal Addition

I have been making the Cook's Illustrated Mexican Rice with such frequency that I realized recently that I may not be getting enough nutrition because all I seem to be eating is rice!  To help supplement this amazing dish with a healthy side, I turned to the Vegetarian Times, and found their Refried Black Beans recipe.  

The refried black beans definitely stand up to the Mexican rice, and are almost good enough to eat alone as well.  I've made the recipe twice – first with canned black beans, and the second with dried beans (though I think the beans may have been old, and so were relatively tough even after many hours of cooking).  The result is flavorful, smooth and filling.  The only modification I made both times I made this recipe was to include a frozen tablespoon of lemon instead of the lime juice, which seemed like a fine substitution.  The citrus definitely made a difference to make the flavors "pop" more, so I'll be sure to include lime or lemon juice in the future.