INGREDIENTS:
1 bone from a smoked ham or
8 pig's tails
2 1/3 pounds fresh string beans
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1. Put the ham bone in a 6-quart pot with enough water to fill halfway.
Heat to boiling, lower the heat to a simmer, and cover. Simmer 45 minutes.
2. Prepare the beans while the bone is simmering. Snap the stem end from
each bean and pull gently along the length of the bean to remove the
string. (It may not be necessary to remove the string from very young
beans.) Rinse the beans in a colander under cold running water. Drain and
add to the pot along with the salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer the beans
until very tender, up to 30 minutes for old tough beans or around 15
minutes for very tender young beans. Check the seasoning halfway through
the cooking and adjust if necessary. Remove the bone and drain the beans.
Serve hot.