"Easy yet delicious" green beans

A friend wrote to me asking for "something easy yet delicious and snack-like one can do with green beans." Here's a quick and fresh recipe from Dean & Deluca: The Food and Wine Cookbook.

Haricots Verts with Garlic

1.5 lb small green beans, trimmed
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, crushed
a handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the beans and cook for 3-4 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil. Drain and refresh under cold running water. Set aside. Heat the oil and butter in a skillet. Add the garlic, beans, and salt and cook over high heat for 1 minute, stirring. Remove from the heat, then stir in the chopped parsley and lemon juice, if using. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.