If cooking beans from dried, save that bean juice, helps thicken without so much sour cream. Can substitute yogurt, whole milk. Plenty of fresh jalapeños better than canned (fear not, not spicy hot once all cooked in), fry up with the onion, char a bit, can also chop up yellow / orange bell peppers same time to make it really colorful
Lotsa garlic but only JUST before the stock.
I did a white refried beans too, serve with hot tortillas, green salsa shredded Monterey jack, the sour cream you saved, now it's optional. Also green HOT sauce, and a powdered dry chile, a smoky Chipotle or "Mexican" version for those wanting the extra heat.
