This very simple recipe came from a friend’s copy of How to Cook Without a Book. She has made them several times when I was there for dinner, and they came out tasting like much more than the sum of the ingredients.

Thyme Green Beans

1 lb fresh green beans (or frozen, not French cut)
½ small onion, thinly sliced
1/3 C water
1 T olive oil or butter
½ tsp dried (or 1 tsp fresh) thyme

Heat water and oil or butter until simmering, add thyme, onions and trimmed green beans. Cover and steam 10 minutes, then remove lid and allow remaining liquid to evaporate.

Source: How to Cook Without a Book, by Pam Anderson.