The only time I've ever bought green beans to cook at home, they sat in my vegetable crisper drawer for 2 weeks and I finally ended up throwing them away uncooked. I've had them served as a side in a local Italian restaurant, just barely tender and delicious, and would like to replicate that to purge my tastebuds of the overboiled green beans that I've taste in the past ... even if I've only tried them a few times. Like asparagus, a bit under cooked rather than over cooked seems to be what one should aim for, I think.

As to the quinoa ... I've never tasted it.