One of my dearest personal friends is my guest today, Author Roxanne Rustand. I was so happy when she joined me writing for Steeple Hill. Here’s Roxanne:

“What a beautiful day! Brilliant August sunshine, 80 degrees, bright blue sky. Here in the Midwest, it’s so lush and green with all the rain we’ve gotten this year-a thousand different shades of green, fragrant with damp earth and just-cut alfalfa and lilacs. No matter where we travel, coming home to this verdant place fills me with such a sense of peace.

Eastern Iowa is one of the best-kept secrets in the US, with its peaceful, deeply rolling hills, timber and sparkling creeks. People mix up Iowa, Ohio, and Idaho all the time when I say where I’m from. But that’s okay.

We live out in the country, and my office windows look out on our wood-fenced corrals and the pastures beyond, where the four horses are grazing, their summer-slick coats gleaming in the sunshine. Across the fence, a dozen beautiful, wildly marked paint foals are romping in the neighbor’s pastures–providing no end of amusement to our border collies, who are safely contained on our deck.

Elmo, in particular, is a study in total concentration. Head low, ears pricked, body crouched, he stares at them for hours on end, his intensity deepening when they scatter (how dare they!) Our son Brian says we need to buy two sheep, so Elmo can spend his days keeping them together. He is a dog with a mission–but one without a job.

Which got me thinking, this morning. Elmo knows what he is and what he needs to do. He never loses sight of that, even though he can’t get close to anything he can herd.

What about the rest of us…are we blessed with direction and determination from the beginning? Have we followed through? Or have some of us come across our true desires later in life? My daughter is already determined to be a writer. I have no doubt that she has the drive and ability, and that she can reach her goal if she stays on that course. I didn’t start writing until we had grade-school aged children…and wish I’d started much, much sooner.

The heroines in my books are all strong women determined to pursue their goals. My August book, SAVE THE LAST DANCE, is an Everlasting, shelved at the bookstores with the Harlequin Superromances this month, or you can also find it at www.steeplehill.com. I’m now an inspirational author, and this one could’ve been published as an inspirational, too. I loved writing about Kate, a strong woman from rough beginnings who succeeds on her own merits to become a veterinarian, and then faces the biggest challenge of her life on one fateful afternoon. And Jared–a man who has to choose between his family destiny and the woman he loves.

How about you? What would you love to do? Have you followed your heart? Become what you want to be? Is there something you could do toward that goal now, even if it can’t be achieved any time soon? This blog is about strong women, who achieve whatever their circumstances in life. I’ve been following Lyn’s blog since its inception because I think these real-life stories about women are so empowering. And now, I’d love to hear about you!

BTW–if you have pets, love animals, or enjoy some fun reminiscence from the past, stop by the “All Creatures Great and Small Blog” my blog. I’m currently running stories from an old time horse trader, and I’d love to see you there!”

You can also visit Roxanne at her website.

Now for her Recipes–and let me tell you Roxanne is one of the best cooks I know! I’ve sat at her table often–with delight!

Sunday Night Enchiladas by Roxanne Rustand
1# ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
1 16 oz can refried beans
4 oz can chopped green chilies
3 cups mild cheddar cheese
Hot Sauce
1-1 ½ cups medium salsa
12+ tortillas
GARNISHES: More cheese Sour cream Sliced green onions Sliced black olives Chopped fresh tomato Extra Salsa–hot, medium, mild variety
Brown and season the meat and onions, Drain, rinse away fat under running hot water. Spread beans in 9×13 pan. Top with beef & onions. Sprinkles with hot sauce and chilies, Top with the 3 cups cheese, then drizzle well with salsa.
Bake uncovered 25 min at 400 degrees or until thoroughly heated and bubbly. Spoon mixture onto tortillas, roll up and serve with garnishes.
Or, roll them up, line them up in a single layer in a baking pan, sprinkle heavily with more cheese, and put back in the oven until cheese topping is nice and melty….then serve (this is our favorite!)

This was our Sunday night dinner for years, while the kids were growing up, because everyone loved it. I serve it with a nice, crispy lettuce salad garnished with tomatoes, green beans, and chips & salsa. For company, add a sopaipilla cheesecake and non-alcoholic slushy strawberry drinks.

SOPAIPILLA CHEESECAKE
2 pkg Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls (generics won’t be as good!)–or two pkg of their 9×13 sheets
2 – 8oz pkg reduced fat cream cheese
1 cup sugar ( or Splenda Sugar Blend)
1 tsp real vanilla
Topping layer: ½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven : 350 degrees (important!) 2. Spread one pkg of crescent rolls in a 9×13 pan. Seal all the perforations together…. (or use 1 tube of a Pillsbury 9×13 sheet.) Put it in the heated oven 5-10 min while preparing the filling. 3. Microwave cream cheese for a minute to soften, then beat in the 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Pour over bottom crust in the 9×13 pan. 4. Top with another layer of Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough. 5. Sprinkle on the chopped pecans and a mixture of the cinnamon/nutmeg/sugar. Drizzle evenly with the butter. 6. Bake for 30 min at 350 degrees.
I just discovered other versions of this on the Internet, too–so you can google the title and find all sorts of variations!

Thanks so much, Rox!-Lyn