Old green bean deluge

My first time posting to the "recipes" group.

I have three teepees(?) of pole beans, and somehow they suddenly got away form me and now I don't have enough to eat the way I like them - as tender pods, but rather I have these long pods with already formed beans in them.

I shelled a bunch of them, but wonder if any of you have a recipe or an idea on how to use them. I was thinking to cook them in a little butter or olive oil, with a little broth,add a pinch of thyme? basil? Mix in with rice?

Could I freeze some? How?

And the other question is probably quite weird and should perhaps be on the "Frugal" thread: has anyone ever done anything with all the old pods? Would you consider boiling them in a little water to get some of the goodness, that must still be there, out? Then I could use the broth to cook the rice in? Weird?

Thanks for any ideas
C.