Mrs. Beeton's Dictionary of Every-Day Cookery: The "All About It" Books

a slanting direction, and as they are cut put them into cold water, with a small quantity of salt dissolved in it. Have ready a saucepan of boiling water, with salt and soda in the above proportion; put in the beans, keep them boiling quickly, with the lid uncovered, and be careful that they do not get smoked. When tender, which may be ascertained by their sinking to the bottom of the saucepan, take them up, pour them into a colander, and when drained, dish and serve with plain melted butter. When very young, beans are sometimes served whole: thus dressed, their colour and flavour are much better preserved, but the more general way of sending them to table is to cut them into thin strips. _Time._—Very young beans, 10 to 12 minutes; moderate size, 15 to 20 minutes, after the water boils. _Average cost_, in full season, 1_s._ 4_d._ per peck, but when forced very expensive. _Sufficient._—Allow ½ peck for 6 or 7 persons. _Seasonable_ from the middle of July to the end of September, but may be had forced from February to the beginning of June. BEANS, French Mode of Cooking French. _Ingredients._—A quart of French beans, 3 oz. of fresh butter, pepper and salt to taste, the juice of ½ lemon. _Mode._—Cut and boil the beans by the preceding recipe, and when tender, put them into a stewpan, and shake over the fire, to dry away the moisture from the beans. When quite dry and hot, add the butter, pepper, salt, and lemon-juice; keep moving the stewpan, without using a spoon, as that would break the beans; and when the butter is melted, and all is thoroughly hot, serve. If the butter should not mix well, add a tablespoonful of gravy, and serve very quickly. _Time._—About ¼ hour to boil the beans; 10 minutes to shake them over the fire. _Average cost_, in full season, about 1_s._ 4_d._ per peck. _Sufficient_ for 3 or 4 persons. _Seasonable_ from the middle of July to the end of September. BEANS, to Boil Haricots Blancs, or White Haricot. _Ingredients._—1 quart