Mum always sliced the beans for dinner - br using the old carbon steel knife, br that was pliant and paper thin br from years of sharpening. br br She wouldn't use the plastic peeler br I bought her for mother's day. br 'I'm used to doing them like this...' br she would explain, as she sharpened br knife on steel with purposeful relish. br br I can see her now, perched on the edge br of the old kitchen table, br removing the strings, br meticulously, like a surgeon, br before slicing each bean br into ribbon fine slivers. br br I never developed her skill with beans - br much to my chagrin. br I use a peeler and br cut them into chunks. br br But they never taste the same...