Five Reasons I Keep Going Back to Education Week

Every couple of years for the past decade (or longer), I've packed my bags and ran away to Utah for Education Week.  Okay, so I don't really run.  I fly.  Sometimes I go with friends, other times I go solo, but either way,  it's definitely one of the highlights of my year and has become a cherished tradition.   By the third week in August, I'm in dire need of a vacation from the gardening, canning and summer work.   I'm ready to walk away from it all and fill up my tank which is beginning to run a little low.  After attending classes for a week, visiting with friends and soaking up the beauty of the mountains around me, I'm refueled and ready to get back home and face the demands of my world.

So what is Education Week, you might be asking?   Each year, between the summer and fall semester, BYU opens its campus to students 14 and older, offering up to a thousand classes on subjects such as self-improvement, gospel topics, family and marriage relations, finance, health, education and lots more.  This year's theme was taken from Proverbs 29:18- "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  The classes I participated in helped me to remember who I truly am and who I can become as I strive to honor and keep the law of the Lord.  I was motivated and encouraged in lots of ways and was excited to come home and try to put some of those good ideas to work.

Here's a few of my favorite things from this year's Education Week:

1- The people!  There is an excitement among the attendees that is contagious.  Everyone is so happy to be there and to have the opportunity to be taught by amazing instructors.  Students come from all over the country and this year there were about 20,000 of us, so there were plenty of people to meet. 

Often I stay on campus in one of the dorms, but this year I had a deluxe room accommodation at my friend's home nearby.  After sleeping on those, shall we say, less than comfortable dorm room beds, I was in heaven in my room at Jeannee's.  This bed was perfect!!!

It was nice to spend time with her and share our Education Week experience. Just being in her home for a week was an education in itself.  I'll be posting more about the fun things I learned from her soon.  It's way too much for one post.

During the week, we caught up with a friend we met on our trip to the Holy Land.  Bonnie works at BYU and took a break from her job to visit and show us the photo books she made from the trip.  It brought back such great memories.  

Amazingly enough, among all those 20,000 people, I just happen to run into an old friend, who used to be my babysitter and now has eight children of her own!  Let me tell you...that makes me feel old.  She's as cute as ever though.  Seeing Andra was a tender mercy for which I'm grateful.

2- The campus!  This is a beautiful college campus.   I love the Y on the mountain

and the Bell Tower which brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it play, "Come, Come Ye Saints".

The flower gardens were amazing

and the scenery is breathtaking no matter where you are on campus.

3- The Museum of Art !

Jeannee and I took a break from classes and enjoyed a little time at the Museum of Art.  It was an amazing exhibit with artifacts dating back to the seventh century.  I didn't get any pictures, as my camera battery declared it was exhausted, but I learned much about Islamic culture and art.  Most of the art expresses the sacred without being religious in nature and the artists often considered their work an act of devotion.  It was lovely and inspiring and I was surprised that the museum is open to the public free of charge.  I would hang out there a lot if I was a local.

4- The classes!With so many classes offered, it can be hard to choose which ones to attend.  I've had years when I went to classes from 8:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night, hardly stopping to eat or take a break.  This year my approach was different.  I still attended lots of classes, but I didn't push myself and I felt like the classes I chose were just right for me.  Instead of going to eight classes a day, I would go to four or five and take the time to really digest what I was learning.  It was fun to bounce ideas back and forth with Jeannee as we walked between classes or talked them over when we were back at her home.  I think some of the best learning happens when you talk with someone about what you've heard and hear their ideas.  These were some of my favorites:

*Knowing Christ - Robert Millet

*Teaching Creatively: How Adults and Children Learn - Kevin Miller

*Those Who Sought a Greater Understanding of God (William Tyndale, C.S. Lewis,

George MacDonald, St. Francis of Assisi) - S. Michael Wilcox

*The Quest for Self Mastery- David Christensen

*Seeing Yourself as You Really Are, and as You Really Can Be- Jennifer Platt

*Seven Steps to Becoming More Like the Savior- Merrilee Boyack

*What Remarkable Women of the Scriptures Can Teach Us About Meeting 

Today's Challenges - Jana Staples

*Finding Symbolic Meaning in Ancient Rites and Rituals- Alonzo Gaskill

Sprinkled among these were a few lighter classes on nutrition, organization and stress relief ( I can always use a little help with that!).  And one  class by Janice Kapp Perry and Marvin Goldstein (two amazing musicians) was purely entertaining.  All in all, I felt like the week's classes stretched my thinking and strengthened me spiritually.  And that's why I keep going back year after year.  That and for the....

5-Brownies!

The chocolate mint brownies in the Wilkinson Center are soooooo delicious.  Rich and fudgy, with nuts and a layer of mint frosting topped with another layer of chocolate = perfect treat!  

So that's it.  The top five reasons why I love my trips to Education Week.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story...because I also went hiking to the most amazing places and shopping with a dear friend that I haven't seen in ages, to a baseball game with my "adopted Utah parents" and more!  I know how to make the most of those precious vacation days!

Having My Way With A Dozen Ears of Corn

Isn't that a beautiful sight?  One of the most exciting days of summer for me, is the day the sweet corn is ready.  I pester a local farmer with phone calls inquiring, "is it ready?", until I'm sure he's had quite enough and is more than relieved to answer in the affirmative.  Our attempts to grow our own corn have been frustrating.  A few years ago, we had rows of beautiful green corn that was almost ready to harvest.  Imagine our surprise when one morning we went out to find every stalk flattened to the ground.  I just know there were some very full raccoons watching and mocking us from the woods as they had been partying in our corn while we slept.  Maybe they were of the nicer persuasion and were actually thanking us for the feast - but either way, we ended up with no corn. Because of that experience, I've been relying on others to help me satisfy my corn desire.

And here's what I did with the first, delectable ears I could get my hands on.  I should warn you ahead of time, I was in a spicy, mexican food, kind of mood.

Black Bean Burgers with Corn on the Cob

There's nothing better than an ear of sweet corn picked fresh from the field that morning. On day one we had black bean burgers and sweet corn on the cob.   Simple and delicious, it really doesn't get any better than this.  But I was determined to give it my best shot.  I boiled extra ears for the next few dishes.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Tex Mex flavors abound in this salad with beans, corn, red peppers, red onions, jalapenos and cilantro. I used this recipe and it was awesome.  The lime juice made it taste extra fresh.

Cheesy Corn Omelet

This omelet was over the top delicious.  I've never considered putting corn in my omelet, but keeping with the southwestern theme, I made this one with red pepper, corn, green onions, black beans and pepper jack cheese.  With a little of this salsa on the side, it had my taste buds screaming!  This might be a little intense for your breakfast, but I thought it was perfect.  Actually it would also  make a wonderful dinner on a night when you're scrambling around at 5:00 trying to figure out what on earth to make.

Spicy Corn Chowder

Yes, we do eat soup in the summer.  I've made some tasty gazpacho that was served cold, but with this fresh corn, I really wanted some corn chowder.  I used this recipe from Fine Cooking magazine and it was truly fine. The spice came from the addition of chipotle chili powder, which by the way is very spicy so be careful with it.  Although this soup was tasty, it was a pain in the "you know what" to make.  Frozen corn would have been a million times easier, but then it would have just been plain old corn chowder and I probably wouldn't have been tempted to make it.  My family raved about how good it was and I said, "I'm glad you like it.  Enjoy it to it's fullest, 'cause I doubt you'll be having it again!"

Now that was fun.  Four good meals from a dozen ears of corn.  Oh, how I do love summer food!!!

He Likes Fruit Pies, She Likes Chocolate

He likes fruit pies...

and I don't mind a nice slice of peach pie, warm with a little ice cream on top, myself.   After all, this is the season for good fruit pies.  But my better half would choose a fruit pie any time of the year.  He loves fruit and crunchy pastry.   However, if I were to choose dessert...well, it would almost always involve some good chocolate.  Yes,

She definitely likes chocolate...

and nothing, I mean nothing, can cure a chocolate craving like this molten chocolate cake!

The first time I ever had molten chocolate cake was in Atlanta, Georgia.  Many years ago, when I still had a houseful of kids and way before molten lava cake was on every restaurant menu in the country, I loaded my car with a few friends and we escaped, sans kids, for a little French weekend in Atlanta.  Since none of us planned to travel abroad any time soon, we dreamed of being in France as we strolled through the Monet exhibit at the High Museum and enjoyed dinner at a downtown, French restaurant.  When the dessert menu was presented at the beginning of the meal, instead of the end, I was sure I was in the right place!   That little chocolate cake that was prepared and baked while I had dinner, was the highlight of the trip.  Tres bon!   Oh, how I've reminisced about that trip and that dessert.

Imagine my surprise when I learned how easy it is to make chocolate molten cake at home.  I have to be careful with this one though.  I've made it my "special occasion" dessert and try to reserve it for birthdays or holidays.  However, now that my daughter has learned how to make it herself,  I've found that she can declare any day a "special occasion" if she's in the mood for some good chocolate.  Poor girl, I'm afraid she inherited my love for chocolat!   If you too, love rich, dark, warm, gooey chocolate desserts, then this one's for you.  And as far as I'm concerned, chocolate is always in season!

Molten Chocolate Cake

6 (1oz.) squares bittersweet chocolate

2 (1oz.) squares semi sweet chocolate

10 T. butter

1/2 cup plain flour

1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

3 large eggs

3 large egg yolks

1 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Grease 6 custard cups with butter.  Melt the chocolate

and butter in a microwave or in a double boiler. Add the flour and sugar to the 

chocolate mixture.  Stir in the eggs and yolks. Stir in the vanilla.  Divide batter

evenly among custard cups. Place in oven and bake for 14 minutes.  Edges should be

firm but the center will be runny.  Run a knife around the edge of each cup to

loosen.  Invert onto dessert plates.  Serve warm with fruit, whipped cream or ice cream.  

Praising Him For His Goodness

First Monday counting...

                       when I share entries from my Gratitude Journal

1711- peach smoothie

1712- parking lot visit

1713- zucchini flower soup from Susanna

1714- fresh dill in a vase

1715- pizza night

1716- long soak in the tub

1717- sushi with Kenzie

1718- listening to Dave Matthews with Mark

1719- my herb garden

1720- peach juice running down my chin

1721- lavender on wooden beams

1722- gummy bears

1723- burgers on the grill

1724- tomatoes ripening on the kitchen counter

1725- a visit with Jan and Linda

1726- green mountain views

1727- a job promotion for Kenzie

1728- a gift delivered by the Fed Ex man

1729- flowers, chocolate and a romantic card

1730- conversation between brothers

1731- whistling of the pressure cooker

1732- quiet days working at home

1733- sharing tomatoes with friends who love them as much as I do

1734- frogs talking to each other at the pond

1735- a missionary's testimony on his first Sunday back in his home ward

1736- hospitals and skilled doctors

1737- remembering

1738- afternoon ride on the parkway

1739- singing primary songs with an enthusiastic group of children

1740- mama's brownie recipe

1741- Sunday visit with Mom and Dad Wray

1742- a laundry tip

1743- coming back from the garden with a basket full of food

1744- impromptu road trips

1745- American flags and gold medals

1746- dinners with sisters

1747- hugs from Dad

1748- a new point and shoot camera

1749- working through problems

1750- new books

1751- fresh pasta sauce

1752- neck and shoulder massage

1753- the bean plants that just keep on giving!

1754- a book discussion around the dinner table

1755- coming home to a clean kitchen

1756- back to school supplies

1757- brown eyes that still take my breath away

1758- my pillow

1759- a nice clean deck

1760- my laptop computer

"Oh that men (and women) would praise the Lord for his 

goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

Psalm 107:8