Always a popular vegetable, fresh green beans take to appetizing flavor variations - one with fresh tomatoes and basil, the other with cheese sauce. Either is good with lamb chops, beef steak or herbed chicken. Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 10 minutes.

FOR 4 SERVINGS YOU WILL NEED:

1 lb. sm. green beans
Boiling salted water
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
Dash of lemon pepper
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
2 sm. tomatoes, peeled, cut into wedges
Salt

1. Rinse beans well and snap off both ends, removing strings, if any. Drop into rapidly boiling salted water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. When boiling resumes, begin timing. Cook, uncovered, until just tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain beans.

2. While beans cook, heat butter in a medium frying pan. Stir in basil, lemon pepper and garlic. Add tomatoes, turning lightly to heat through. Coat with butter mixture and release a little of their juice. Mix beans with tomato mixture. Salt to taste. Boiling salted water 1 tbsp. butter 1/4 c. whipping cream Dash of ground nutmeg Dash of white pepper 1/3 c. shredded Parmesan cheese Salt

1. Prepare beans, cook as above.

2. Melt butter in same pan in which beans cooked, over medium heat. Stir in cream, nutmeg, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the cheese. Mix beans into cream mixture, stirring to coat well and reheat. Salt to taste.

3. Place beans in warm serving dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

FOR 2 SERVINGS: Half of the ingredients. FOR 8 SERVINGS: Double the ingredients.