Wash 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. beans and snip off ends. Leave whole or cut in pieces and put into a 3-qt saucepan. Cover well with boiling salted water, cook, uncovered, until tender, about 30 minutes, adding more boiling water if needed. Drain, saving any liquid for vegetable juice cocktail; add 1 teaspoon sugar, pour melted butter or a medium white or brown sauce, over the hot beans and reheat. Serve immediately. 5 servings.

Note: Half this amount of beans may be half-cooked, combined with an equal quantity of diced potatoes and cooked until both are tender; then drained and buttered.

My Notes:
Save the green bean cooking water for vegetable juice cocktail????????? Cook the green beans 30 minutes??????????