To cook green beans on the stove, here is a simple and delicious method:

1. Trim the stem ends of about 1 pound of fresh green beans.
2. In a large skillet, place the green beans along with 4 tablespoons of butter, 1/4 cup of water (or stock), 2 cloves of crushed but unpeeled garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
3. Cover the skillet and bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat.
4. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and cook for about 8 minutes.
5. Stir occasionally during cooking until the green beans are tender but not mushy.
6. Remove the lid, toss the beans in the buttery sauce, and adjust seasoning if needed.
7. Optionally, shave some Parmesan cheese over the top and add more cracked pepper before serving.

This method produces green beans that are cooked through, glazed in a flavorful buttery garlic sauce, and very quick to prepare on the stove.

Another quick method is to simply sauté trimmed green beans in olive oil or butter with garlic, seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, cooking for 5-10 minutes until tender.

For a classic boiled version, drop trimmed green beans into salted boiling water, cook uncovered until tender-crisp (about 5 minutes), drain, and season immediately with salt and butter if desired.

Choose the method that fits your taste and timing preferences. The skillet method with butter and garlic is flavorful and quick, while boiling is straightforward and classic.