Green Beans, a journey in taste and attitude
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40230)
United States
March 29, 2019 11:16am CST
I love it when I learn life lessons from something as simple as a vegetable.
I always thought I hated green beans up until I was in my mid-20s. I had been exposed to mostly the canned variety and those limp, strong tasting strands did nothing for me. I didn't even like the Thanksgiving staple of "green bean casserole" though I can easily eat the topping of French fried onions off the top. 
So, I when I was invited to a friend's house for supper one night I was dismayed to learn that the entrée was chicken and green beans. I groaned. But I took a slight helping of beans, because that is what you do when you are trying to be polite.
I was amazed? Was this green beans? These were fresh and sautéed in olive oil and garlic and onion. They were so delicious, not as strong tasting and... well... I almost liked them as well as French fries.
While I haven't been able to quite replicate those magic green beans - I have come to an understanding with green beans. I no longer hate them. I even plant them in my garden so that I can have access to fresh ones when I want them.
And so the life lesson goes. Because you do not like one type of food, give it a try prepared in different forms. Keep an open mind.
And in so many things in life - it bears out - don't be too quick to judge what you do or don't like.
Photo: Pixabay
So, I when I was invited to a friend's house for supper one night I was dismayed to learn that the entrée was chicken and green beans. I groaned. But I took a slight helping of beans, because that is what you do when you are trying to be polite.
I was amazed? Was this green beans? These were fresh and sautéed in olive oil and garlic and onion. They were so delicious, not as strong tasting and... well... I almost liked them as well as French fries.
While I haven't been able to quite replicate those magic green beans - I have come to an understanding with green beans. I no longer hate them. I even plant them in my garden so that I can have access to fresh ones when I want them.
And so the life lesson goes. Because you do not like one type of food, give it a try prepared in different forms. Keep an open mind.
And in so many things in life - it bears out - don't be too quick to judge what you do or don't like.
Photo: Pixabay18 people like this
18 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
29 Mar 19
There are so many different kinds of beans. When I was growing up we only had runner beans (or string beans) and I wasn't very fond of them, though picked small and fresh from the garden and properly prepared, they were tender and kept their characteristic nutty flavour.
Later on, in the 1960's, other varieties began to appear such as the bushy and stringless ones your picture shows. I believe that they are the same kind which, if left to ripen, produce haricot beans, though I'm not sure. Again, they are only really at their best when young and freshly picked. We can buy them in the supermarkets here chilled and probably only two or three days old but flown in from Kenya, which seems to me a sinful waste of fuel.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
I love your user name.
Are the runner or string beans (or pole beans) - the kind that climb?
I've always planted the "bush" variety of beans, mostly due to not wanting to mess with putting up a trellis for the beans to climb.
I planted a "slender" variety which I really liked last year, but they didn't bear very well for me. :/
Never heard of Haricot beans - but my mom does say you can use the seed in them for soup, I have not tried it.
I agree with you the are at their very best small.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
31 Mar 19
@FayeHazel Yes, runner beans are the ones that climb. I am never sure whether we call them 'string beans' because people very often erect a frame with strings for them to climb up or because preparation involves taking off the stringy edges of the pods and slicing them into strings - there are special tools for doing this, often combined with a potato peeler.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@owlwings Wow, I never knew why they called them "string" beans but both of those reasons are good. I sure wouldn't like to have to de-string the beans. Ugh.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89678)
• Rupert, Idaho
30 Mar 19
That's good to know, I am a picky eater so don't like a lot of veggies....so maybe I should find different ways to "try" them....this gives me hope :)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
I'm happy to have inspired you. I know, they're not my favorite, either …. so am constantly trying to find ways to incorporate them
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@MommyOfEli2013 Ah me too - I wish I just naturally liked this stuff
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@MommyOfEli2013 (89678)
• Rupert, Idaho
31 Mar 19
@FayeHazel well that is good that you try to find ways, it's not always easy! I envy those that love them!
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@DianneN (254926)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@FayeHazel A huge wooden Peppermill. I was so pleased they loved my recipe and printed it!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Oh wow. That sounds really good. What did you get for winning?
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@DianneN Oh nice! I love fresh pepper and that had to have felt good about the recipe
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382268)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Apr 19
@FayeHazel Vince has been roasted them with some sort of vinegar and 'stuff'.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Ah, that's funny. I've always tolerated Brussels Sprouts more than others....
I've found that if you can slice them into small slices and fry them they get tasty
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
@CarolDM lol, to me is "soggy" but then I like crispy myself
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
31 Mar 19
@FayeHazel Not soggy, just cooked, well done, not crunchy.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
2 Apr 19
Fresh ones areso much better then those bland squishy ones in a can. I hate them. I do like somewhat the French cut style ones in a can though. Your story reminds me of when I was young thinking food tasted horrible? It wasn't until my teens that I found out it was just my mom's cooking that was bad!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
10 Apr 19
Oh dear, lol at your mom's cooking. That sounds tough indeed!
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Mar 19
So true! I felt that way about broccoli as a kid. My mom only boiled the heck out of broccoli and that's how she served it (with mayo and soy sauce, if you wanted it). But I started liking them when I got a taste of flash cooked broccoli where it stays a bit crisp like in a stir fry - oh yummy and I love broccoli now. Fresh greens like what you described are so delicious . . . but I definitely cannot stand canned ones.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 19
@FayeHazel My kids are like that with the broccoli 
.
Canned green beans are so overcooked and squishy - the color makes it look quite awful too!
.
Canned green beans are so overcooked and squishy - the color makes it look quite awful too!@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Oh wow, I'm similar with broccoli. Funny thing - I don't like the big chunks of it like trees - but diced fine I can do it. lol. Go figure.
Oh yes, seems like canning takes the delicious right out of a lot of greens
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Ah not a good combination at all if you don't like garlic.
1 person likes this
You're welcome.@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Lol thanks for the head's up on frozen. I like my new agreement with beans now
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
23 Apr 19
Im glad you found a way to enjoy them.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Mar 19
Our tastes can sometimes mature.
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
So true. It seems I like a lot more now than when I was a kid
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209017)
• United States
29 Mar 19
Sometimes something you didn't like can take on a whole new taste..if prepared well.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
So true, amazing what preparation can do
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
29 Mar 19
So true! One can do wonders to spruce up the taste of vegetables.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Oh yes, amazing what preparation can do
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56325)
• Canada
29 Mar 19
For me the only the only way that I can eat green beans is if they've been steamed.
Growing up my mother always boiled them until they were limp and almost tasteless, but steamed just right is such an improvement in my opinion-you'll have to try them that way.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
31 Mar 19
Ooo I do have a steamer basket, too... I will have to try it :-)
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@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Mar 19
I agree! Sometimes its all in how its prepared.
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