Aaron's Amazing Simple Beans

1. Place kidney beans into a large container and cover with about 1 quart water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain. 2. Combine beans, 1 quart water, preserved lemon, sugar, black pepper, red chile pepper, bay leaf, garlic powder, and anise seed in a stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover stockpot, and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Remove lemon, bay leaf, and red chile pepper from bean mixture. Mash about 10% of the beans against the sides of the stockpot using the back of a spoon. Cover stockpot and simmer for 45 minutes more. 4. Remove cover from stockpot and simmer beans until beans are thickened and water is evaporated, about 15 minutes more.