best beans

(Still residing in Paris) Ok, I know I've been posting a heap more veggie matter than meeeeeeeat...sorry; it's the summer and, the chef of the moment still has not bought a new grill since the divorce (no barbeque until then), and has not been eating a lot of meat lately other than sardines, since in France - oysters, as I have heard, should not really be enjoyed so much since the ocean has been pretty warm-this oyster lover is sad but not going to indulge until proven wrong.....

Here's a green bean recipe that is, how do you say, tres tres yum yum. Call your parents TODAY and ask for a raise since you have to buy some GOOD French green beans..this will change your life forever.

THE BEST GREEN BEANS OF YOUR LIFE DIRECT FROM FRANCE

o  green beans - like I said, no cheap shriveled, old wands of sadness - REAL green beans

o  sliced almonds - hopefully these are lying around in the cabinet, otherwise start selling your mom's prized Hummels on ebay, this ingredient is eeeeessential. Crack your own if you must, just don't slice off your fingers when you're chopping them

o  some butter

o  lemon if you wish...not necessary

Look carefully at beans. Are they beautiful? If not, either break off the naughty ends or cut off the ends with the stems. Make them lovely and presentable! Their reputation is on the edge here.

Take a frying pan and either spray some oil or drizzle a TINY bit of oil in the pan...heat to med/high

before smoking (the pan NOT YOU-ever!) throw a heap of almonds into the pan and toss around.  Watch this carefully - stir around nuts until golden brown...not black...lightly BROWN or GOLDEN. take off heat.

In a small pot of boiling water throw in your lovely beans and toss in a big pinch of salt. Lower heat and gently simmer them until they are a second less than snappy..you want them poppy not snappy.  (People who like hard, snappy vegetables cannot be trusted; they're the types who steam their "veggies" for 2 seconds in distilled who-knows-what and eat only one or two of them with organic seaweed pulp instead of salt. Wicked weird.) Toss the beans with a tablespoon of butter, some salt, a little olive oil and your toasted nuts. Some people love a good sprinkling of lemon, not important though.  Delightful!