Plain Boiled French Beans

Ingredients

• 1 pound Fresh French Beans (Green Beans) (Young and tender beans are best.)
• 6 cups Water (For boiling)
• 1 teaspoon Salt (To taste)
• 4 tablespoons Butter (Or Maître d'Hôtel butter (see instructions))
• 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley (Finely chopped, for Maître d'Hôtel butter)
• 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (For Maître d'Hôtel butter)
• 0.25 teaspoon Black Pepper (Freshly ground, for Maître d'Hôtel butter)

Instructions

1. 1Wash the green beans thoroughly. Trim the ends and remove any strings. If the beans are very long, you can cut them in half.
2. 2Bring the water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add the salt. Add the green beans to the boiling water. Reduce heat slightly to maintain a steady boil and cook until the beans are tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Check for doneness by piercing a bean with a fork; it should be tender but still have a slight bite.
3. 3Drain the beans immediately in a colander. Serve hot with butter or Maître d'Hôtel butter.
4. 4To make Maître d'Hôtel butter, soften 4 tablespoons of butter. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter with 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed. Serve immediately or chill for later use.