We should be so proud of all our athletes, and I know we are, whether they win or lose, they are both thrilled and humbled by just being able to take part in these amazing games. As Clara Hughes, the Bronze winner in speed skating said, “I’m proud of myself, I did my best and that was my goal. Actually what I thought was my perfect race was when I came in fifth and that set me up for my race today.”
She wished that all young people could be inspired to have the passion for sports, and added that she was honest in saying, when I stumbled in her teens, that it changed the direction of my lifestyle for the best.
Sports, and other goals, teach kids early to keep a good healthy outlook. Our Olympians are an inspiration to all of Canada, and as well they are amazingly good looking, handsome young men and beautiful women. Or is it because at my age all young people are beautiful? Today we hear so much negativity about our youth, either they are obese or getting into trouble and these games show us a different side of youth, one I like to believe is more true.
Plus, the athletes seem all to be so nice, when interviewed they never hesitate to mention their parents and the community support and are so thankful for all the help they received and hope and plan to give back in some  form or other. They are our greatest ambassadors for Canada.
A footnote on the weather in Vancouver, it has been a disappointment in the higher mountains with lack of snow but the party went on with full enthusiasm. My father always said, “in the west we have weather, in the east you have seasons. People out here are like fish — when it rains, we dress for it, and when the sun comes out, it is so beautiful and the trees bloom, and the bulbs flower in late February and we forget that we just went through thirty plus days of continual rain.”
From the games to the kitchen. I received a small booklet in the mail recently and it featured Microwave Secrets. When the microwave first came out I was very negative about getting one and then one day my husband came home with one and I started to accept this new helper in my kitchen, but only on a limited base. Now I must use it at least three or four times a day. “We’ll just mic it” it is as a common part of our language as hello and good bye.
Microwave ovens vary in wattage, the following recipes used a 900-watt oven. Ovens with less wattage will take more time and those with more wattage, less time. Use heat-resistant glass, sturdy porcelain, china or pottery without metal trim and plastics that are marked as “microwave-safe.”
 I must admit I don’t make full use of my microwave oven and use it mainly for reheating, warming dishes and a small amount of cooking, never baking. These recipes have given me a new challenge and I hope for you to.
Quick Orange Chicken
2 tbsp. thawed frozen orange juice
1 tbsp. of orange marmalade
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup fresh orange sections
For sauce, combine juice concentrate, marmalade, mustard, and salt in 8-inch shallow round microwavable dish.
Add chicken, coating both sides with just enough sauce. Set rest aside. Arrange chicken round the edge of dish without overlapping. Cover with vented plastic wrap (something I don’t do, but a vented plastic lid is a great must for microwaves, bought mine at the hardware store). Microwave at high for three minutes, then turn chicken over. Microwave another four minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in centre.
Remove chicken to serving plate. Keep hot. Microwave remaining sauce on high two or three minutes or until slightly thickened. Spoon over chicken, and top with orange sections.
Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
12 ounces of broccoli, cut into spears with 2 or 3 inch stems
8 ounces processed cheese, cubed
3 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. Worcestshire sauce
Arrange broccoli spears on microwave dinner plate with stalks toward edge of plate. Cover with vented plastic top or vented plastic wrap and microwave on high three to four minutes or until broccoli stems are tender.
Combine cheese, milk and Worcestershire sauce in a two-quart glass measuring cup. microwave on high two to three minutes, stirring after two minutes. Serve sauce with broccoli. Makes three to four servings.
Super Nachos
12 large baked tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup refried beans
2 tbsp. chunky salsa
Arrange chips in single layer on large microwaveable plate. Sprinkle cheese evenly over chips. Spoon beans over chips, top with half teaspoonfuls of salsa.
Microwave at medium (50 per cent) for 1 1/2 minutes, rotate dish. Microwave 1 to 1/2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes two servings but can be adjusted to quantity you want or do on two or more individual plates.