Whatever you like and whatever works for you is what's good.

I remember one time I made some red beans and rice for a potluck thing. I didn't have time to soak and deal with dried beans, so I used some cans of Trappey's (which is pronounced trah-pay, not trap-pee, btw) and added lots of meat and flavouring as usual.

This very schnotty woman come up to me and accuse me of using Camellia brand beans, and she was quite offended when I told her it was canned Trappey's. I about died laughing at her, but that's another long story...