The evenings in Avondale have started to cool just enough that you can leave the kitchen window open. The smell of rain lingers in the air, and the cicadas are quieter now, as if even they’re ready to rest. I like this time of year. It’s the kind that makes you want to cook something simple but full of flavor, something that fills the house without demanding much in return.

Earlier today, I found myself thinking about how quiet the house gets sometimes. Not a sad kind of quiet, just the kind that lets your thoughts stretch out a bit. I stopped by Publix after my walk and noticed Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage sitting right in the middle of the BOGO display. The idea of cooking sausage reminded me of the old cast-iron skillet my mother used to use, and before I knew it, the rest of dinner was planned right there in the aisle.

By the time I got home, the sky was a soft gray, and the dogs had already curled up by the back door. Cooking on evenings like this feels a little like journaling. Stirring. Tasting. Remembering. The sizzle of sausage hitting the pan took me back to my mother’s kitchen. She never measured anything; she just knew. I’m not sure when I started cooking the same way, but I suppose some habits pass down without a word.

This meal doesn’t need company to make it feel special. Still, I caught myself wondering what Janine was up to tonight. Maybe next week I’ll bring her a plate, something comforting like this one.

One-Pan Smoked Sausage and Veggie Skillet

A warm, hearty weeknight dinner made with simple ingredients, perfect for a quiet evening or an easy family meal.

Ingredients

• 14 oz Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, sliced into coins
• 2 cups Publix Green Beans (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup Sunset Angel Sweet Tomatoes, halved
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: ½ cup Galbani Fresh Mozzarella Cheese pieces (for melting on top)

Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle with olive oil.
2. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add onions and bell pepper. Sauté 3-4 minutes until softened.
4. Toss in the green beans and tomatoes; season with paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook another 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
5. Return sausage to the pan, toss everything together, and heat through for 2 minutes.
6. (Optional) Scatter mozzarella pieces over the top, cover for 1 minute until slightly melted.
7. Serve warm straight from the skillet – the kind of meal best eaten with the window open and no rush at all.

When dinner was done, I left the skillet on the stove to cool and stood for a while, listening to the soft rain outside. There’s a kind of peace in simple food – in the way it fills your home, and maybe even the spaces between your thoughts. I can’t say exactly what I’m waiting for, but evenings like this make me believe that whatever’s next will find its way, one quiet meal at a time.