Today, I earn much more than the amount on that check. The reason I do not have a more recent check to display is Google pays me by direct deposit now.]
----------------------
Anyone who owns or is thinking about creating a website would be crazy to ignore this.
I am happy to say that making money with your site, no matter the topic, has become easier than it's ever been before - and it's 100% legitimate.
If AdSense had been available in 2000, I would have NEVER shut down my soap opera fan site that received 200 hits per day. I would have been able to earn money from that traffic and probably turned a small profit.
Untold Facts About AdSense you need to know in order to succeed with the program!
Yes, the money can be great, but if you don't learn how to build a site that attracts targeted traffic then you won't make much from AdSense.
Don't pay a cent for these "Get Rich Quick" books on AdSense. Many of them are all hype. Learn all you need to know for free.
Right click and "Save As" to download this book.
What is AdSense?
Google.com earns most of its revenue by allowing other website owners to advertise on their search result pages. All this is managed through a program they call AdWords.
Now you can earn a share of the revenue that Google earns from AdWords by displaying these same text ads on your site. In other words, you're helping Google advertise and they pay you a percentage of what they earn.
This program is called AdSense.
Every website owner should at least consider the program. Even if your site is just for information purposes, you can still participate and make decent money with AdSense -- or at least enough to fund your website.
So if you are one of those people that doesn't like the idea of paying for a site, this is an excellent way to earn your money back and then some.
How AdSense Works
Don't like to read a lot of text? Watch my 4-minute video on how AdSense works.
"Is Google Crazy?"
I know what you're probably thinking...
"What's the catch here? Why would Google just give away money advertisers are paying them?"
The answer...
Because Google is very smart.
If you understand how AdSense works, you will see that it's a win-win situation for everyone involved, and the bottom line benefits Google. Let me explain...
Since the advertiser's ads are now being displayed on more web sites all over the internet (instead of just Google's site), they are getting much more exposure. More exposure means more clicks and even more traffic for their site over a shorter period of time.
This is good news for Google because the more traffic the advertisers receive, the faster their advertising funds are used up.
Remember, they get charged every time their site gets a visit; and of course, it is Google's hope that they'll continue to keep funneling more money into their account for more ad exposure.
What an ingenious way for Google to increase the amount of money they earn from advertisers while building loyalty with website owners (like us) who are now getting paid to help them advertise.
Of course, I'd expect nothing less from the most popular search engine on the web. :)
My Personal AdSense Story
I have been receiving monthly checks from Google since 2003, and I've read numerous success stories of websites earning 5 digit incomes per month with AdSense.
Now, I will admit, a 5-digit commission in a single month is probably not the norm for most participants.
I promote AdSense on three of my websites and my checks have been as high as $4,800.
The more information you have, the greater chance you have of attracting free search engine traffic. That's why it's so very important you choose a topic you have an interest in so you can keep building and building.
My checks weren't always that large. I think my first month's earnings in 2003 totaled less than $20. However, I kept getting more and more search engine traffic by adding more content and the checks slowly began to increase. I had no idea it would grow to anything like this.
"How Much Can I Earn With AdSense?"
Google does not disclose exactly how much you'll earn per ad that is clicked.
The commission you receive per click depends on how much advertisers are paying Google for the particular ad. You will earn a share of that amount. I've heard of earnings anywhere from 2 cents to $15 per click.
So it is logical to believe that keyword phrases like debt free, employment, make money, mp3, sex, etc. will earn you more per click since these are highly competitive keywords that are searched for quite a bit on the web.
Advertisers generally pay more for popular terms because they are searched for more.
Even though Google will not reveal how much you are earning for each ad that is clicked from your site, you can still login to your account at any time and see the total amount of revenue you've generated that day, week, month, year, etc.
For example, if you see that you've made $12.60 today from 9 clicks then you can calculate that your average click-thru commission was $1.40 per click. That's as detailed as their stats will get. Also remember, that's only an average. You won't know how much each specific ad brought in.
The amount you'll earn also depends largely on the amount of targeted traffic you receive to your own site, how well the ads match your audience's interests, the placement of the ads on your pages, and of course the amount you receive per click.
Ideally, you should create a site on a topic you know a lot about. That way you'll have a much easier time creating a generous amount of content on that subject.
Why I Believe AdSense Works So Well
For years, website owners have tried to make money from their sites by putting up banner ads in hopes of visitors clicking them. The problem with banner ads is that the Internet audience is so immune to them, people do not click on them anymore.
When's the last time you clicked a banner ad?
...Exactly!
Second, in order for the web site owner to earn money from that banner ad, usually the web surfer that clicks has to purchase something. With AdSense, your visitors just have to click the ads. They don't have to purchase a single thing.
Third, most people that use banner ads do not do a good job of matching the ads to the website's content so the click thru percentages are dismal.
With Google's AdSense, not only are you displaying text ads, (which tend to receive a much higher click-thru rate than banner ads), but you are displaying contextual ads that match your website's content....thanks to Google's advanced technology.
Lots of times people think the ads are part of your site's content so they click because the information is relevant to your site. Whereas with banner ads, they often have little relevance and people tend to ignore them no matter how much they flash and fly across the page.
Creating Your Website for AdSense
Before you even begin your site, make sure you've come up with a topic that you feel you know plenty about. That way it will be easiest to write a lot of content.
The more content you have, the better chance you have getting accepted into the program. Also, the more content, the greater the earning potential. AdSense is nothing but a numbers game. If you want to make a lot of money, prepare to write a lot of content.
Now let's talk about building your website. There are two ways you can approach this:
1) Do it Yourself (DIY) from scratch
2) Use Site Build It! (SBI!)
The Do It Yourself Method
I've actually used both methods for building my site and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
If you use the DIY method, you will have to go and register a domain name (yoursite.com) and then sign up for a web host and build your pages. You can either learn HTML or buy some kind of web editor like Microsoft FrontPage to build your pages. That's the method I used to build this site.
Averaging between $7 and $15 per month, the DIY method is usually the most cost friendly of the two but you are mostly on your own in terms of learning how to create your web pages and adding the AdSense code to your site.
Web hosts are generally there to house your site. They don't specialize in helping you market and optimize your site for the search engines to help you get traffic. So don't expect a lot from them in terms of helping you market your site.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. I had to learn how to build this site on my own and it wasn't very difficult.
I now manage all of my sites with Dreamweaver.
Use Site Build It! - A Web Host Made for AdSense
This is a revolutionary web host like no other. I use it for my site, flat-stomach-exercises.com, and after only 11 months the site was earning over $700 per month for AdSense alone.
Two years after launch, the total monthly earnings shot up to $2,000 to $2,500.
Today, the site continues to earn money from AdSense yet I have no products to sell. I'm simply offering information on a topic I know a lot about and SBI showed me how to rank high in the search engines for various keyword phrases. Over 90% of traffic comes from the free search engines.
The reason SBI is different from the other do-it-yourself hosts is that first it provides all the web page building and marketing help all in one place. Your domain registration, web hosting and marketing help come with the price..
Super Easy Web Page Builder
Creating your pages is as simple as entering text into form fields and using the user-friendly editor to add text, create links, add pictures and more. No software is needed to install or download. You simply select a template you want to use and your site is built in seconds...literally.
I took a screenshot of the SBI! interface...
FOREX TRADING
Introduction to Trading Forex
Foreign Exchange
This short introduction explains the basics of trading Forex online, a brief explanation of the markets and the major benefits of trading Forex online. There are also two scenarios describing the implications of trading in a bear as well as a bull market to better acquaint you with some of the risks and opportunities of the largest and most liquid market in the world.
As an additional aid for those who are new to Forex, there is also a glossary at the bottom of this text which explains some of the terms used in connection with currency trading.
Overview Foreign exchange, Forex or just FX are all terms used to describe the trading of the world's many currencies. The Forex market is the largest market in the world, with trades amounting to more than USD 3 trillion every day. Most Forex trading is speculative, with only a low percentage of market activity representing governments' and companies' fundamental currency conversion needs.
Unlike trading on the stock market, the Forex market is not conducted by a central exchange, but on the “interbank” market, which is thought of as an OTC (over the counter) market. Trading takes place directly between the two counterparts necessary to make a trade, whether over the telephone or on electronic networks all over the world. The main centres for trading are Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. This worldwide distribution of trading centres means that the Forex market is a 24-hour market.
Trading Forex
A currency trade is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another one. The currency combination used in the trade is called a cross (for example, the euro/US dollar, or the GB pound/Japanese yen.). The most commonly traded currencies are the so-called “majors” – EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCHF and GBPUSD.
The most important Forex market is the spot market as it has the largest volume. The market is called the spot market because trades are settled immediately, or “on the spot”. In practice this means two banking days.
Forward OutrightsFor forward outrights, settlement on the value date selected in the trade means that even though the trade itself is carried out immediately, there is a small interest rate calculation left. The interest rate differential doesn't usually affect trade considerations unless you plan on holding a position with a large differential for a long period of time. The interest rate differential varies according to the cross you are trading. On the USDCHF, for example, the interest rate differential is quite small, whereas the differential on NOKJPY is large. This is because if you trade e.g. NOKJPY, you get almost 7% (annual) interest in Norway and close to 0% in Japan. So, if you borrow money in Japan, to finance the trade and buying NOK, you have a positive interest rate differential. This differential has to be calculated and added to your account. You can have both a positive and a negative interest rate differential, so it may work for or against you when you make a trade.
Trading on MarginTrading on margin means that you can buy and sell assets that represent more value than the capital in your account. Forex trading is usually conducted with relatively small margin deposits. This is useful since it permits investors to exploit currency exchange rate fluctuations which tend to be very small. A margin of 1.0% means you can trade up to USD 1,000,000 even though you only have USD 10,000 in your account. A margin of 1% corresponds to a 100:1 leverage (or “gearing”). (Because USD 10,000 is 1% of USD 1,000,000.) Using this much leverage enables you to make profits very quickly, but there is also a greater risk of incurring large losses and even being completely wiped out. Therefore, it is inadvisable to maximise your leveraging as the risks can be very high. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Why Trade Forex?
24 hour tradingOne of the major advantages of trading Forex is the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day from Sunday evening (20:00 GMT) to Friday evening (22:00 GMT). This gives you a unique opportunity to react instantly to breaking news that is affecting the markets.
Superior liquidityThe Forex market is so liquid that there are always buyers and sellers to trade with. The liquidity of this market, especially that of the major currencies, helps ensure price stability and narrow spreads. The liquidity comes mainly from banks that provide liquidity to investors, companies, institutions and other currency market players.
No commissionsThe fact that Forex is often traded without commissions makes it very attractive as an investment opportunity for investors who want to deal on a frequent basis. Trading the “majors” is also cheaper than trading other cross because of the high level of liquidity. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
100:1 LeverageLeverage (gearing) enables you to hold a position worth up to 100 times more than your margin deposit. For example, a USD 10,000 deposit can command positions of up to USD 1,000,000 through leverage. You can leverage the first USD 25,000 of your investment up to 100 times and additional collateral up to 50 times.
Profit potential in falling marketsSince the market is constantly moving, there are always trading opportunities, whether a currency is strengthening or weakening in relation to another currency. When you trade currencies, they literally work against each other. If the EURUSD declines, for example, it is because the US dollar gets stronger against the euro and vice versa. So, if you think the EURUSD will decline (that is, that the euro will weaken versus the dollar), you would sell EUR now and then later you buy euro back at a lower price. In case that the EURUSD indeed declines, then you can take your profit. The opposite trading scenario would occur if the EURUSD appreciates.
Important Forex Trading Terms
SpreadThe spread is the difference between the price that you can sell currency at (Bid) and the price you can buy currency at (Ask). The spread on majors is usually 3 pips under normal market conditions. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Pips A pip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. When trading Forex you will often hear that there is a 3-pip spread when you trade the majors. This spread is revealed when you compare the bid and the ask price, for example EURUSD is quoted at a bid price of 0.9875 and an ask price of 0.9878. The difference is USD 0.0003, which is equal to 3 “pips”.On a contract or position, the value of a pip can easily be calculated. You know that the EURUSD is quoted with four decimals, so all you have to do is cancel out the four zeros on the amount you trade and you will have the value of one pip. Thus, on a EURUSD 100,000 contract, one pip is USD 10. On a USDJPY 100,000 contract, one pip is equal to 1000 yen, because USDJPY is quoted with only two decimals.
Trading Scenario – Trading Rising PricesIf you believe that the euro will strengthen against the dollar you'll want to buy euro now and sell it back later at a higher price.
• You buy euro
We quote EURUSD at Bid 0.9875 and Ask 0.9878, which means that you can sell 1 euro for 0.9875 USD or buy 1 euro for 0.9878 USD.In this example you buy euro 100,000, at the quote price of 0.9878 (ask price) per euro.
• The market moves in your favor
Later the market turns in favour of the euro and the EURUSD is now quoted at Bid 0.9894 and Ask 0.9896.
• Now you sell your euro and get the profit
You sell euro at a Bid price of 0.9894.
• The profit is calculated as follows
Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9894 minus 0.9878) multiplied by 100.000 = USD 140 Profit (Note that the profit or loss is always expressed in the secondary currency)
Trading Scenario – Trading Falling Prices If, on the other hand, you believe that the euro will weaken against the dollar, you'll want to sell EURUSD.
• You sell euro
We quote EURUSD at a Bid price of 0.9875 and Ask price of 0.9880 and you decide to sell euro 100,000 at a Bid price of 0.9875.
• The market moves in your favour
The euro weakens against the dollar and the EURUSD is now quoted at bid 0.9744 and ask 0.9749.
• Now you buy back your euro
You buy EUR at an ask price of 0.9749.
• Your profit/loss is then
Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9875 minus 0.9749) multiplied by 100.000 = USD 1260 Profit Remember that trading EUR 100,000 as we have done in our examples, does not mean that you have to put up euro 100,000 yourself. On a 2% margin means that you have to deposit 2.0% of euro 100,000, which is euro 2,000 on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.
Further ReadingTo see how you can trade the Forex market and benefit from our toolbox of information and live quotes, please proceed to the Forex Quick Start found under the Trading menu of SaxoTrader.
Glossary
• Appreciation
An increase in the value of a currency.
• Ask
The price requested by the trader. This usually indicates the lowest price a seller will accept.
• Base currency
The currency that the investor buys or sells (i.e. EUR in EURUSD).
• Bear
Someone who believes prices are heading down. A bear market is one in which there has been a sustained fall in prices and which does not look like it will recover quickly.
• Bid
The price offered by the trader. This usually indicates the highest price a purchaser will pay.
• Bid/Ask
The Bid rate is the rate at which you can sell. The Ask (or offer) rate is the rate at which you can buy.
• Bull
Someone who is optimistic about the market. A bull market is characterised by enthusiastic and sustained buying.
• cross
When trading with currencies, the investor buys one currency with another. These two currencies form the cross: for example, EURUSD.
• Cross rate
An exchange rate that is calculated from two other exchange rates.
• Depreciation/decline
A fall in the value of a currency.
• Exchange rate
What one currency is worth in terms of another, for example the Australian dollar might be worth 58 US cents or 70 yen.Currencies traded freely on foreign-exchange markets have a spot rate (applying to trades settled “spot”, i.e., two working days hence) and a forward rate. Countries can determine their exchange rates in a variety of ways.1. A floating exchange rate system where the currency finds its own level in the market.2. A crawling or flexible peg system which is a combination of an officially fixed rate and frequent small adjustments which in theory work against a build-up of speculation about a revaluation or devaluation.3. A fixed exchange-rate system where the value of the currency is set by the government and/or the central bank.
• EURUSD
Means that you trade EUR against dollars. If you buy euro you pay in dollars and if you sell euro you receive dollars.
• FX, Forex, Foreign Exchange
All names for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. you buy GBP 100.00 with USD 150.25 or sell USD 150.25 for GBP 100.00.
• Interbank
Short-term (often overnight) borrowing and lending between banks, as distinct from a banks business with their corporate clients or other financial institutions.
• Interest rate differential
The yield spread between two otherwise comparable debt instruments denominated in different currencies.
• Leverage (gearing)
The investor only funds part of the amount traded.
• Long
To buy.
• Long position
A position that increases its value if market prices increase.
• Liquid (-ity)
The capacity to be converted easily and with minimum loss into cash. A liquid market is one in which there is enough activity to satisfy both buyers and sellers. Ultra-short-dated treasury notes are an example of a liquid investment.
• Margin
The deposit required when entering into a position as well as to hold an open position. Your margin status can be monitored in the Account Summary.
• NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange.
• Open position
A position in a currency that has not yet been offset. For example, if you have bought 100,000 USDJPY, you have an open position in USDJPY until you offset it by selling 100,000 USDJPY, thus “closing” the position.
• Over the counter
When trading takes place directly between two parties, rather than on an exchange. Over the counter trades can be customised whereas exchange-traded products are often standardised.
• Pips
A pip is the smallest unit by which a Forex cross price quote changes. So if EURUSD bid is now quoted at 0.9767 and it moves up 2 pips, it will be quoted at 0.9769.
• Position
Traders talk of “taking a position” which simply means buying or selling currency cross. “Position” can also refer to a trader's cash/securities/currencies balance, whether he or she is short of cash, has money to lend, is overbought or oversold in a currency, etc.
• Risk
Trying to control outcomes to a known or predictable range of gains or losses. Risk management involves several steps which begin with a sound understanding of one's business and the exposures or risks that have to be covered to protect the value of that business. Then an assessment should be made of the types of variables that can affect the business and how best to protect against unwelcome outcomes. Consideration must also be given to the preferred risk profile – whether one is risk – averse or fairly aggressive in approach. This also involves deciding which instruments to use to manage risk and whether a natural hedge exists that can be used. Once undertaken, a risk-management strategy should be continually assessed for effectiveness and cost.
• Secondary currency (variable currency or counter currency)
The currency that the investor trades the base currency against (i.e. USD in EURUSD).
• Short position
A position that benefits from a decline in market prices.
• Short
To sell.
• Speculative
Buying and selling in the hope of making a profit, rather than doing so for some fundamental business-related need.
• Spot
A Spot rate is the current market price of an asset.
• Spot market
The part of the market calling for spot settlement of transactions. The precise meaning of “spot” will depend on local custom for a commodity, security or currency. In the UK, US and Australian foreign-exchange markets, “spot” means delivery two working days hence.
• Spread
Foreign Exchange
This short introduction explains the basics of trading Forex online, a brief explanation of the markets and the major benefits of trading Forex online. There are also two scenarios describing the implications of trading in a bear as well as a bull market to better acquaint you with some of the risks and opportunities of the largest and most liquid market in the world.
As an additional aid for those who are new to Forex, there is also a glossary at the bottom of this text which explains some of the terms used in connection with currency trading.
Overview Foreign exchange, Forex or just FX are all terms used to describe the trading of the world's many currencies. The Forex market is the largest market in the world, with trades amounting to more than USD 3 trillion every day. Most Forex trading is speculative, with only a low percentage of market activity representing governments' and companies' fundamental currency conversion needs.
Unlike trading on the stock market, the Forex market is not conducted by a central exchange, but on the “interbank” market, which is thought of as an OTC (over the counter) market. Trading takes place directly between the two counterparts necessary to make a trade, whether over the telephone or on electronic networks all over the world. The main centres for trading are Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. This worldwide distribution of trading centres means that the Forex market is a 24-hour market.
Trading Forex
A currency trade is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another one. The currency combination used in the trade is called a cross (for example, the euro/US dollar, or the GB pound/Japanese yen.). The most commonly traded currencies are the so-called “majors” – EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCHF and GBPUSD.
The most important Forex market is the spot market as it has the largest volume. The market is called the spot market because trades are settled immediately, or “on the spot”. In practice this means two banking days.
Forward OutrightsFor forward outrights, settlement on the value date selected in the trade means that even though the trade itself is carried out immediately, there is a small interest rate calculation left. The interest rate differential doesn't usually affect trade considerations unless you plan on holding a position with a large differential for a long period of time. The interest rate differential varies according to the cross you are trading. On the USDCHF, for example, the interest rate differential is quite small, whereas the differential on NOKJPY is large. This is because if you trade e.g. NOKJPY, you get almost 7% (annual) interest in Norway and close to 0% in Japan. So, if you borrow money in Japan, to finance the trade and buying NOK, you have a positive interest rate differential. This differential has to be calculated and added to your account. You can have both a positive and a negative interest rate differential, so it may work for or against you when you make a trade.
Trading on MarginTrading on margin means that you can buy and sell assets that represent more value than the capital in your account. Forex trading is usually conducted with relatively small margin deposits. This is useful since it permits investors to exploit currency exchange rate fluctuations which tend to be very small. A margin of 1.0% means you can trade up to USD 1,000,000 even though you only have USD 10,000 in your account. A margin of 1% corresponds to a 100:1 leverage (or “gearing”). (Because USD 10,000 is 1% of USD 1,000,000.) Using this much leverage enables you to make profits very quickly, but there is also a greater risk of incurring large losses and even being completely wiped out. Therefore, it is inadvisable to maximise your leveraging as the risks can be very high. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Why Trade Forex?
24 hour tradingOne of the major advantages of trading Forex is the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day from Sunday evening (20:00 GMT) to Friday evening (22:00 GMT). This gives you a unique opportunity to react instantly to breaking news that is affecting the markets.
Superior liquidityThe Forex market is so liquid that there are always buyers and sellers to trade with. The liquidity of this market, especially that of the major currencies, helps ensure price stability and narrow spreads. The liquidity comes mainly from banks that provide liquidity to investors, companies, institutions and other currency market players.
No commissionsThe fact that Forex is often traded without commissions makes it very attractive as an investment opportunity for investors who want to deal on a frequent basis. Trading the “majors” is also cheaper than trading other cross because of the high level of liquidity. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
100:1 LeverageLeverage (gearing) enables you to hold a position worth up to 100 times more than your margin deposit. For example, a USD 10,000 deposit can command positions of up to USD 1,000,000 through leverage. You can leverage the first USD 25,000 of your investment up to 100 times and additional collateral up to 50 times.
Profit potential in falling marketsSince the market is constantly moving, there are always trading opportunities, whether a currency is strengthening or weakening in relation to another currency. When you trade currencies, they literally work against each other. If the EURUSD declines, for example, it is because the US dollar gets stronger against the euro and vice versa. So, if you think the EURUSD will decline (that is, that the euro will weaken versus the dollar), you would sell EUR now and then later you buy euro back at a lower price. In case that the EURUSD indeed declines, then you can take your profit. The opposite trading scenario would occur if the EURUSD appreciates.
Important Forex Trading Terms
SpreadThe spread is the difference between the price that you can sell currency at (Bid) and the price you can buy currency at (Ask). The spread on majors is usually 3 pips under normal market conditions. For more information on the trading conditions at Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your Client Station and open the section entitled “Trading Conditions” found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
Pips A pip is the smallest unit by which a cross price quote changes. When trading Forex you will often hear that there is a 3-pip spread when you trade the majors. This spread is revealed when you compare the bid and the ask price, for example EURUSD is quoted at a bid price of 0.9875 and an ask price of 0.9878. The difference is USD 0.0003, which is equal to 3 “pips”.On a contract or position, the value of a pip can easily be calculated. You know that the EURUSD is quoted with four decimals, so all you have to do is cancel out the four zeros on the amount you trade and you will have the value of one pip. Thus, on a EURUSD 100,000 contract, one pip is USD 10. On a USDJPY 100,000 contract, one pip is equal to 1000 yen, because USDJPY is quoted with only two decimals.
Trading Scenario – Trading Rising PricesIf you believe that the euro will strengthen against the dollar you'll want to buy euro now and sell it back later at a higher price.
• You buy euro
We quote EURUSD at Bid 0.9875 and Ask 0.9878, which means that you can sell 1 euro for 0.9875 USD or buy 1 euro for 0.9878 USD.In this example you buy euro 100,000, at the quote price of 0.9878 (ask price) per euro.
• The market moves in your favor
Later the market turns in favour of the euro and the EURUSD is now quoted at Bid 0.9894 and Ask 0.9896.
• Now you sell your euro and get the profit
You sell euro at a Bid price of 0.9894.
• The profit is calculated as follows
Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9894 minus 0.9878) multiplied by 100.000 = USD 140 Profit (Note that the profit or loss is always expressed in the secondary currency)
Trading Scenario – Trading Falling Prices If, on the other hand, you believe that the euro will weaken against the dollar, you'll want to sell EURUSD.
• You sell euro
We quote EURUSD at a Bid price of 0.9875 and Ask price of 0.9880 and you decide to sell euro 100,000 at a Bid price of 0.9875.
• The market moves in your favour
The euro weakens against the dollar and the EURUSD is now quoted at bid 0.9744 and ask 0.9749.
• Now you buy back your euro
You buy EUR at an ask price of 0.9749.
• Your profit/loss is then
Sell price-buy price x size of trade (0.9875 minus 0.9749) multiplied by 100.000 = USD 1260 Profit Remember that trading EUR 100,000 as we have done in our examples, does not mean that you have to put up euro 100,000 yourself. On a 2% margin means that you have to deposit 2.0% of euro 100,000, which is euro 2,000 on margin as a guarantee for the future performance of your position.
Further ReadingTo see how you can trade the Forex market and benefit from our toolbox of information and live quotes, please proceed to the Forex Quick Start found under the Trading menu of SaxoTrader.
Glossary
• Appreciation
An increase in the value of a currency.
• Ask
The price requested by the trader. This usually indicates the lowest price a seller will accept.
• Base currency
The currency that the investor buys or sells (i.e. EUR in EURUSD).
• Bear
Someone who believes prices are heading down. A bear market is one in which there has been a sustained fall in prices and which does not look like it will recover quickly.
• Bid
The price offered by the trader. This usually indicates the highest price a purchaser will pay.
• Bid/Ask
The Bid rate is the rate at which you can sell. The Ask (or offer) rate is the rate at which you can buy.
• Bull
Someone who is optimistic about the market. A bull market is characterised by enthusiastic and sustained buying.
• cross
When trading with currencies, the investor buys one currency with another. These two currencies form the cross: for example, EURUSD.
• Cross rate
An exchange rate that is calculated from two other exchange rates.
• Depreciation/decline
A fall in the value of a currency.
• Exchange rate
What one currency is worth in terms of another, for example the Australian dollar might be worth 58 US cents or 70 yen.Currencies traded freely on foreign-exchange markets have a spot rate (applying to trades settled “spot”, i.e., two working days hence) and a forward rate. Countries can determine their exchange rates in a variety of ways.1. A floating exchange rate system where the currency finds its own level in the market.2. A crawling or flexible peg system which is a combination of an officially fixed rate and frequent small adjustments which in theory work against a build-up of speculation about a revaluation or devaluation.3. A fixed exchange-rate system where the value of the currency is set by the government and/or the central bank.
• EURUSD
Means that you trade EUR against dollars. If you buy euro you pay in dollars and if you sell euro you receive dollars.
• FX, Forex, Foreign Exchange
All names for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. you buy GBP 100.00 with USD 150.25 or sell USD 150.25 for GBP 100.00.
• Interbank
Short-term (often overnight) borrowing and lending between banks, as distinct from a banks business with their corporate clients or other financial institutions.
• Interest rate differential
The yield spread between two otherwise comparable debt instruments denominated in different currencies.
• Leverage (gearing)
The investor only funds part of the amount traded.
• Long
To buy.
• Long position
A position that increases its value if market prices increase.
• Liquid (-ity)
The capacity to be converted easily and with minimum loss into cash. A liquid market is one in which there is enough activity to satisfy both buyers and sellers. Ultra-short-dated treasury notes are an example of a liquid investment.
• Margin
The deposit required when entering into a position as well as to hold an open position. Your margin status can be monitored in the Account Summary.
• NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange.
• Open position
A position in a currency that has not yet been offset. For example, if you have bought 100,000 USDJPY, you have an open position in USDJPY until you offset it by selling 100,000 USDJPY, thus “closing” the position.
• Over the counter
When trading takes place directly between two parties, rather than on an exchange. Over the counter trades can be customised whereas exchange-traded products are often standardised.
• Pips
A pip is the smallest unit by which a Forex cross price quote changes. So if EURUSD bid is now quoted at 0.9767 and it moves up 2 pips, it will be quoted at 0.9769.
• Position
Traders talk of “taking a position” which simply means buying or selling currency cross. “Position” can also refer to a trader's cash/securities/currencies balance, whether he or she is short of cash, has money to lend, is overbought or oversold in a currency, etc.
• Risk
Trying to control outcomes to a known or predictable range of gains or losses. Risk management involves several steps which begin with a sound understanding of one's business and the exposures or risks that have to be covered to protect the value of that business. Then an assessment should be made of the types of variables that can affect the business and how best to protect against unwelcome outcomes. Consideration must also be given to the preferred risk profile – whether one is risk – averse or fairly aggressive in approach. This also involves deciding which instruments to use to manage risk and whether a natural hedge exists that can be used. Once undertaken, a risk-management strategy should be continually assessed for effectiveness and cost.
• Secondary currency (variable currency or counter currency)
The currency that the investor trades the base currency against (i.e. USD in EURUSD).
• Short position
A position that benefits from a decline in market prices.
• Short
To sell.
• Speculative
Buying and selling in the hope of making a profit, rather than doing so for some fundamental business-related need.
• Spot
A Spot rate is the current market price of an asset.
• Spot market
The part of the market calling for spot settlement of transactions. The precise meaning of “spot” will depend on local custom for a commodity, security or currency. In the UK, US and Australian foreign-exchange markets, “spot” means delivery two working days hence.
• Spread
This is a close up of my birdbath planter. My hens and chicks actually survived winter I was happy to see and I added more along with the cactus. It is supposed to have a bright yellow bloom on it.
My clearance specials from TJ Maxx and Marshall's. The teapot, platter and cups/saucers are not marked other than fine porcelain. The sugar bowl, creamer and small bowl are Giselle from Waterford from Home Goods. I caught them on clearance and also picked up a couple of salad plates and bowl
My first tea/coffee set. When Dillard's bought out our local Cain Sloan stores years ago they closed the downtown Nashville store and I picked this brass set 
up on clearance. My lucky day
up on clearance. My lucky dayPoppy - Peppertree Tabletops. My birthday present to me last year from TJ Maxx. The poppies are such a beautiful bright cheery red. The silver tray was found at an antique store going out of business.
My clearance specials from TJ Maxx and Marshall's. The teapot, platter and cups/saucers are not marked other than fine porcelain. The sugar bowl, creamer and small bowl are Giselle from Waterford from Home Goods. I caught them on clearance and also picked up a couple of salad plates and bowl.
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 7:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Tea Time Tuesdays
Monday, July 6, 2009
Cactus Monday
I am joining Teri for Cactus Monday
This is a close up of my birdbath planter. My hens and chicks actually survived winter I was happy to see and I added more along with the cactus. It is supposed to have a bright yellow bloom on it.
My prickly pear cactus are starting to grow. I just planted these this spring and they are finally showing signs of life. I can't wait for them to grow and fill up my pot. They are planted in an aluminum light fixture bowl I turned upside down in my big pot. After seeing Cindees' broken glass in her bbq and how good it made her cactus look I'm going to have to find some for mine.
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 8:37 AM 7 comments
Labels: Birdbaths, Cactus
Friday, July 3, 2009
Last of the Daylilies
Here are the last of our beautiful daylilies
2 tone yellow/peach
pale yellow
light peach
light pink and little yellow
2 tone ruffle peach and purple -- one of our newest
bright yellow ruffle -- another of our newest
I hope you have enjoyed them as much as we have.
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 8:22 AM 0 comments
Labels: Flowers
Thursday, July 2, 2009
This One is for Uncle Bill
blackberries getting ready -- just imagine the blackberry cobblers and jam
blueberries -- just hanging full
grapes will be a bumper crop -- nothing better than Mom's grape jelly
raspberries -- Mom is making jam this morning
strawberries -- trying to keep the runners from getting mowed
tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers
orange fluorescent tape Alan put around the garden -- trying to keep the deer out
the flag is supposed to help keep them away -- hahahahaha
scarecrow in the 2nd green bean garden that has been planted twice and is now fenced in thanks to the rain and wild turkeys
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 9:33 AM 1 comments
Labels: Garden
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Road Trip
Mom and I took a quick 3 day road trip to Arkansas to check on Uncle Richard who just had surgery. He is progressing quite well and expected to be chasing his cows and horses in a couple of weeks. We enjoyed our visit with him, Aunt Mary and Betty so much and are thinking of you every day. Even got a 5 minute visit with Bruce.
We like to shop at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross stores and managed to find 6 of them on the way down. Nothing like bargains to make a trip more fun.
We stayed with Aunt Zelda and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her and Uncle Bill, Mark and Skyler. She had coffee ready for Mom and RC for me when we arrived. They had lazagna ready to eat and blueberry cobbler for dessert. Couldn't ask for any better arrival than that. Time flew by too quickly and it was time to come home. Miss you all.
One the way home we stopped at an antique store in Jackson and found an iron fence section for the flower garden. We also had 1 Marshalls store to stop at and Aunt Linda just happened to call and caught us shopping. Needless to say she and Wayne Bob were not surprised.
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 9:34 AM 0 comments
Labels: Flowers, Trips
Friday, June 26, 2009
Around Our Garden
Different things we have sitting around the garden plus more daylilies.
End of old iron chair propped again a planted telephone pole. A guy from work was throwing this away and I rescued it. The slats were nothing but rot and we threw them out and placed the 2 ends around the garden. Concrete doves are at the top of the pole and a clematis was on the other side climbing the trellis. It bit the dust this year.
two tone day lilies
big sun dial at end of new peony bed
dark hot pink daylily - we have a couple of these plants all in different shades of pink
small sun dial in center of garden
lavender daylily - we have several of these also in different shades
hanging gazebo by pond garden
spider daylilies by pond garden
iron work on fence post at back of garden with hanging wire basket
Sandy
Posted by Peonies & Magnolias at 10:01 AM 2 comments
Labels: Concrete, Flowers, Iron Work
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Bird & Butterfly Houses
A Few of Our Birdhouses and Our Butterfly House
church birdhouse in the shade garden close to the patio
birdhouse in my corner garden
butterfly house -- never seen a butterfly go in but the wasps sure like to build nests in it
Tall white birdhouse behind the japanese maple or rather what is left of the japanese maple - between the late freeze and drought in 2007 and dry summer last year it is having a very hard time.
Sandy
Use basil and chives if you can, because the basil plays up the sweetness in the peas, and chives work wonders for boiled potatoes. You must pour the vinaigrette on before the potatoes cool and don’t be alarmed if it soaks into the potatoes before you can say mum, it’s supposed to happen that way. Those potatoes will take on the sharp flavor of the wine vinegar, and be better for it. It’s okay that it seems too dry, that’s why you add the butter. The end product — with the butter and everything mashed up a bit — is soft, creamy, and rich, with a background kick. Bring it to your next barbecue. You can even tell everyone it’s healthy, I’ll keep the secret
This potato salad, made with snap peas and potatoes from my magical neighbors, and fresh herbs from my own puny attempts at gardening (why try, when you have gardening elves?), is the kind of potato salad that you can fool people into thinking is healthy. Very green, full of herbs and peas, it’s almost as if it doesn’t contain a healthy dollop of olive oil and a couple pats of butter. (Unless you are set on making a healthy potato salad, don’t leave out the butter; it melds all the flavors together and keeps it from becoming one of those ultra-vinegary potato salads—the type that make you long for some good mayonnaise.)
We have magical elves for neighbors, I’m sure of it. Magical gardening elves. Because every day, on my way out of town, I stop at their shed on the side of the road and find fresh snap peas, or potatoes, or whatever’s been picked the day before. And my neighbors are not just magical elves because they grow and offer this stuff (lots of people have front-yard farm stands around here), they are magical elves because their food tastes magical. Take a look at this pea, for example
It’s plump, sweet, and fresh-tasting. I couldn’t even take the picture without stealing a pea first. My neighbors’ sugar snap peas are better than any I’ve tasted from farm markets, let alone supermarkets. And once a few weeks go by, the elves will start to put out heirloom tomatoes meaty and bursting with sweetly acidic flavor. These tomatoes were what made Jim and me wonder last year, when we just moved into town, if we could ever leave
4:45 AM - While most of my friends are returning home from long hours of clubbing, I wake up at this ungodly hour - my eyes bloodshot red. I am going to the Kasimpasa Kastamonu food market for the love of blogging. I have to be there around 5:30 AM, right before all the restaurant owners and food enthusiasts show up and exhaust all the rare vegetables and herbs. I usually wake up with no kick left, but this morning I am quite energetic and cheerful. I head into the kitchen, turn the coffee machine on and hop into the shower. I planned the day minute by minute, so I am quite peaceful.
All of a sudden, a scary thought crosses my mind: What if the crazy lady in our apartment parked her car behind mine again, blocking my way as she usually does? It usually takes her lazy ass 30 minutes to get down and move the car. Terrified at the thought of seeing her freakishly frizzy hair and giant ass at that bright hour, I quickly rinse out the shampoo, put some clothes on and get out.
All of a sudden, a scary thought crosses my mind: What if the crazy lady in our apartment parked her car behind mine again, blocking my way as she usually does? It usually takes her lazy ass 30 minutes to get down and move the car. Terrified at the thought of seeing her freakishly frizzy hair and giant ass at that bright hour, I quickly rinse out the shampoo, put some clothes on and get out.
Double Chocolate Bundt Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze. This is how I make up for lost time. I’ve neglected my blog for quite a while. It has been a month since I last came here and shared a recipe (and some amazing news), but it really feels like yesterday. Time flies.
Actually, I haven’t been baking for a month and I am too ashamed to tell you how I’ve been feeding myself recently. Thankfully the vegan queen of Montezuma came to my rescue with her nutritious morning shakes and vegan dinners. I feel energized already. We cooked lots of vegan dishes with her. I’ll be sharing those recipes soon, so stay tuned. Until then, I hope you enjoy this delicious double chocolate bundt cake.
Actually, I haven’t been baking for a month and I am too ashamed to tell you how I’ve been feeding myself recently. Thankfully the vegan queen of Montezuma came to my rescue with her nutritious morning shakes and vegan dinners. I feel energized already. We cooked lots of vegan dishes with her. I’ll be sharing those recipes soon, so stay tuned. Until then, I hope you enjoy this delicious double chocolate bundt cake.
My father has the strictest morning routine I have ever seen. He wakes up at 6:30 AM, goes for a 45-minute walk, takes a shower, eats his breakfast and he’s on his way to work at 8:00 AM sharp. This has been his routine for as long as I can remember. Stricter than his morning routine is the list of things he eats at breakfast. A slice of toasted bread, green and black olives (four of each), a thin slice of Gruyere, a thick slice of white cheese (rest of the world calls it Feta cheese), a teaspoon of Swiss honey, tea with lemon (sweetened by the remnants of honey left on the teaspoon) and a small bowl of cherry tomatoes, which are peeled by my unbelievably patient mother. One would assume that his son would have acquired a somewhat similar breakfast habit.
I am a terrible son. I watch, but not learn. I don’t eat anything when I wake up. I go straight to the coffee machine and watch the walls while the drips fill the pot. Give me a plate full of crepes stuffed with chocolate gelato and smeared with dulce de leche and I’ll just stare at it with an empty look
I am a terrible son. I watch, but not learn. I don’t eat anything when I wake up. I go straight to the coffee machine and watch the walls while the drips fill the pot. Give me a plate full of crepes stuffed with chocolate gelato and smeared with dulce de leche and I’ll just stare at it with an empty look
Spring has sprung, and in these times of rising temperature and humidity, nothing quite quenches my thirst like a Pimm’s Cup. While this drink will be well known to British and Commonwealth readers, those from the United States may be scratching their heads.The posh British answer to “an ice cold beer”, Pimm’s Cup is a cocktail made with Pimm’s No. 1 Cup (commonly referred to as just Pimm’s), a gin-based liqueur infused with a secret recipe of herbs, and served with cucumber and fruit. Incidentally, cucumber replaces the traditional borage leaves which provided a touch of green to the original drink. One might describe it as a British sangria, associated with high society events like Henley, Ascot, Glyndebourne and May Balls.Pimm’s has humble roots – created by James Pimm, a farmer’s son who went on to own an oyster bar in London’s financial district (known as ‘The City’). The drink became wildly popular in the 1850s and 1860s and inspired a chain of Pimm’s Oyster Houses. Five other Pimm’s drinks were invented, each based on a different alcohol. They have now almost all been phased out except for brandy and vodka versions which are sold in small quantities. The brand is now owned by Diageo, one of the world’s largest alcohol conglomerates.
I last had Pimm's in San Francisco after an excursion to a lovely farmer's market. I've included photos (below) of some of the interesting items we saw there including 'torpedo' onions, huge raspberries and fresh chickens (I was a bit disturbed by the human-like nails on their feet). We also saw kumquats (above) which inspired our non-traditional addition to the Pimm's Cup recipe.
I last had Pimm's in San Francisco after an excursion to a lovely farmer's market. I've included photos (below) of some of the interesting items we saw there including 'torpedo' onions, huge raspberries and fresh chickens (I was a bit disturbed by the human-like nails on their feet). We also saw kumquats (above) which inspired our non-traditional addition to the Pimm's Cup recipe.
Less can be more. That’s my lesson after a recent baking experiment. I was poking through my cabinets to find inspiration when I came across a bag of dark dried fruit. I couldn’t figure out what they were. Not dates. Not prunes. Not figs. I then realized they were organic dried apricots. Without preservatives they turn brown after picking but they still taste the same.I shuffled through my recipe collection and found one for apricot and cherry cake. However, it seemed a bit rich – lots of butter and eggs. To make it lighter, I reduced the butter and egg yolks and added yogurt. As I was beating the batter I noticed how fluffy it was – because of the egg whites.The batter nearly filled the loaf pan. I thought about removing some of it, but figured it was unlikely to overflow.Wrong. Halfway through baking, a burning smell reached the bedroom. Rushing to open the door, I saw that some batter had overflowed onto the bottom of the oven. It was blackening and starting to produce smoke. I’m sad to say this isn’t my first such experience so I knew what to do – I removed the cake, scraped the fallen batter, and placed the cake on top of a foil-covered baking sheet before sliding it back into the oven. In the end, it took much longer to bake and didn’t rise very much. However, it was delicious and reasonably light.The lesson here is that by reducing the egg yolks and butter, I had created a fluffier cake which required a larger pan. Baking is a science so it’s important to understand the chemistry involved when experimenting. The other lesson is to trust your gut. When I saw how much batter there was I should have divided it into two pans.The recipe below has been adjusted to produce just enough batter for a single loaf pan.Please note I’ve created a new tag – Freezes Well – on the suggestion of one of my readers. I hope to add this tag retroactively.
As a child I thought of Strawberry Shortcake as a doll with scented hair, along with her friends Huckleberry Pie and Blueberry Muffin which were part of a 32-character line (all with dessert-themed names) created in the 1980s. The Strawberry Shortcake fad included stickers, clothes, video games, and many other items. Consumer demand waned after several years, but was revived with mild success in 2002 and has another planned relaunch this year with a film and a television series.It wasn’t until my adulthood that I experienced the dessert that inspired the character. Shortcakes are thus named because they use shortening, and are a European invention that dates to at least the 16th century. Shakespeare makes a reference to shortcake in The Merry Wives of Windsor.The combination of shortcake and strawberries, however, is an American invention. The earliest known recipe is from an 1847 cookbook where it is called Strawberry Cake. The dessert became very popular in the 1850s and 1860s as the first transcontinental railroad made it possible for fresh strawberries to be shipped nationally. Advertisers induced strawberry fever by encouraging demand for the fruit; strawberry shortcake parties became popular as a celebration of the coming summer.Originally, strawberry shortcake was meant to be made from piecrust in a round or in pieces covered with strawberries. The current dominant version uses a scone or biscuit. Some modern recipes use a sponge cake, especially common in Japan where strawberry shortcake is a favorite Christmas or birthday cake. While strawberry shortcake is the most common version of the dessert, shortcakes can be served with peaches, blueberries or other summer fruit. Some recipes call for flavored shortcakes; coconut is the most common variant. I suggest serving the shortcake with vanilla ice cream for a more substantive finish to a summer meal.Leftover shortcakes can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for up a month (thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bring up to room temperature). You can also eat them for breakfast - toasted and spread with butter and berry jam.
Serves 6Shortcake
1 3/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into chunks
1/2 cup buttermilk1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
zest from one orange
Strawberry Topping1 to 2 pints strawberries, washed, stems removed and quartered
2 tablespoons orange juice or Cointreau
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, to serve1. To make biscuits, in a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, cornstarch and baking powder.2. Using a pastry cutter or two knives work in butter until it resembles coarse meal.3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add buttermilk, 1/4 cup cream and orange zest.4. Stir with a fork until a dough just forms.5. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it just holds together.6. Place dough back in the large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.7. Preheat oven to 375 F.8. On a floured surface, pat out dough until 1/2 inch thick. Cut out shortcakes using a 3-inch circular cutter.9. Transfer shortcakes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush lightly with remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.10. Bake for 15 to 20 or until golden brown. Transfer to a rack to cool.11. To make strawberry topping, gently mix all the ingredients. Stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.12. To serve, slice shortcake in half horizontally. Place a scoop of ice cream on the bottom, add strawberry topping and top with shortcake top. Serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. Alternately, skip ice cream and place whipped cream in shortcake sandwich.
Serves 6Shortcake
1 3/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into chunks
1/2 cup buttermilk1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
zest from one orange
Strawberry Topping1 to 2 pints strawberries, washed, stems removed and quartered
2 tablespoons orange juice or Cointreau
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, to serve1. To make biscuits, in a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, cornstarch and baking powder.2. Using a pastry cutter or two knives work in butter until it resembles coarse meal.3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add buttermilk, 1/4 cup cream and orange zest.4. Stir with a fork until a dough just forms.5. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it just holds together.6. Place dough back in the large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.7. Preheat oven to 375 F.8. On a floured surface, pat out dough until 1/2 inch thick. Cut out shortcakes using a 3-inch circular cutter.9. Transfer shortcakes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush lightly with remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.10. Bake for 15 to 20 or until golden brown. Transfer to a rack to cool.11. To make strawberry topping, gently mix all the ingredients. Stand at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.12. To serve, slice shortcake in half horizontally. Place a scoop of ice cream on the bottom, add strawberry topping and top with shortcake top. Serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. Alternately, skip ice cream and place whipped cream in shortcake sandwich.
When Tim has been very good, he sometimes earns Lemongrass Tofu. Ha,ha. At least, that's what I tell him.Normally, I'm fast and furious with tofu - cutting into cubes (not even pressing the water out first), marinating in soy sauce, then tossing into whatever dish I'm making.But lemongrass tofu is my go-to when I want to put in a bit more effort. It's still a super easy recipe! Just requires some thought ahead of time to buy the lemongrass (it's not something I usually have on hand).
There are a few things I have been dying to make since being home... does that sound too dramatic? 'Dying to make'?! But it's true, I've thought about certain recipes every day for the past month. Here's one of the foods on my mind:
I've been working in east Texas for the past two weeks. I did a little research and discovered that there is no Crossfit close to where I am staying, and by close I mean closer than two hours away. Lucky for me, one of my favorite trainers at CFDC was generous enough with his time to send me a list of bodyweight exercises and even pick out a few for me to do while I was away.
It's been a little tough. Working out alone is boring. Last week my room was pretty big so I was able to jump rope, this week I hit a wall, bed or light fixture every time I swing.
Needless to say I think my workouts have lacked some intensity over these two weeks. Tomorrow I will be back in Dallas and return to Crossfit until I go back out of town next week. Needless to say I am a little nervous. . .we'll see how this goes.
Cooking Light
I am not a regular reader of Cooking Light, but occasionally I will pick it up. This month I am very glad I did.
There is a great section on quick weeknight meals. So far I've made the Hoisin Steak and the Mediterranean Burgers, both fantastic recipes. The burgers call for turkey, we also tried them with beef but I preferred the turkey. Along with the steak came wonton chips. They made a great side and also make a great snack. Since you bake them with just a brushing of semsame oil, they are healthier than regular chips too.
It's been a little tough. Working out alone is boring. Last week my room was pretty big so I was able to jump rope, this week I hit a wall, bed or light fixture every time I swing.
Needless to say I think my workouts have lacked some intensity over these two weeks. Tomorrow I will be back in Dallas and return to Crossfit until I go back out of town next week. Needless to say I am a little nervous. . .we'll see how this goes.
Cooking Light
I am not a regular reader of Cooking Light, but occasionally I will pick it up. This month I am very glad I did.
There is a great section on quick weeknight meals. So far I've made the Hoisin Steak and the Mediterranean Burgers, both fantastic recipes. The burgers call for turkey, we also tried them with beef but I preferred the turkey. Along with the steak came wonton chips. They made a great side and also make a great snack. Since you bake them with just a brushing of semsame oil, they are healthier than regular chips too.
One of the first things I like to do when I am in a new city for work is check out what is close and choose a standby restaurant. I like somewhere that is relatively inexpensive, close by, has a varied menu, and does a lot of things well. Specialties are fun but make for a monotonous standby.
Now it was yesterday, but I still wanted to post. I found out through my gym's website that June 5, 2009 was National Donut Day, kinda makes you want to try my gym doesn't it?John and I decided it would only be right for us to celebrate. Lucky for us there is a donut shop right outside of my apartment in Austin, Ken's Donuts.
THANKS WHOLE FOODS
Today I had a really pleasant experience in Whole Foods. It wasn't too crowded (usually my main complaint), I was able to find everything I needed quickly and I was surpised to find they had a lot of sales going on.
After I had checked out, I realized that one of the seasonings I intended to buy was still sitting in my cart. So not to be a spice stealer, I brought it back to the check out. The cashier offered to ring it up, but there was a line so I told him I would just get it next time (it's pretty close to my apartment and I try to stay away, but I make a trip almost every day).
After I had checked out, I realized that one of the seasonings I intended to buy was still sitting in my cart. So not to be a spice stealer, I brought it back to the check out. The cashier offered to ring it up, but there was a line so I told him I would just get it next time (it's pretty close to my apartment and I try to stay away, but I make a trip almost every day).
I know it has been a really long time since I last posted, and before that it was pretty sporadic. The good news is, I've been eating, and cooking too.So, what's the problem? Photos. Sometimes I am disappointed that I made or ate something delicious and the picture just doesn't do it justice. Other times I am way too caught up in what I am doing to want to take a picture.Now I am going to try again, hopefully with more success this time for me and more entertainment for you.
It is already July, and with a good chunck of summer over it is finally time for some r&r.I love to read, and what better to read about than food and the people who have had and are making a difference in food and the way people eat.
The other day I had the chance to stop by the bookstore and pick up, as one of my favorite blogs calls it, gastro-lit. Most of the selections I was drawn to as the result of this blog. I am so excited to get started, I will let you know how it goes :)
Just made this delicious dessert tonight. It was really good, the kids and I gobbled it right up! I call it a sorbet since it was sweet with a hint of sour, like a sorbet but it has almond milk so many would call that an ice cream I guess. Anyway… it is a great way to get even more greens into the diet!
Raw Vegan Raspberry and Spinach Sorbet (or Ice Cream)
1 C baby spinach
2 C frozen, organic raspberries
1 cup almond milk
2-3 squirts sweetener , like raw agave or honey. I used agave.
Put the spinach on the bottom of the blender so it gets pulverized well. Mix all ingredients together until thick and creamy. Serve immediately as soft serve or stick in the freezer for a harder consistency.
Made this in my Vita-Mix in under 5 minutes from start to finish!
Raw Vegan Raspberry and Spinach Sorbet (or Ice Cream)
1 C baby spinach
2 C frozen, organic raspberries
1 cup almond milk
2-3 squirts sweetener , like raw agave or honey. I used agave.
Put the spinach on the bottom of the blender so it gets pulverized well. Mix all ingredients together until thick and creamy. Serve immediately as soft serve or stick in the freezer for a harder consistency.
Made this in my Vita-Mix in under 5 minutes from start to finish!
Asian Pears
My oldest son (8) has decided he wants to try one new fruit each week. I am not sure where he got the idea but it sounds good to me. Today he picked his first... a big, orangey colored, Asian pear. It was ridiculously priced of course at $3.08
Evie’s Kitchen Book Review
Last night I dived into Evie's Kitchen - Raising an Ecstatic Child. It was even better than I imagined when I anxiously ordered it a few weeks back. If you have been living in the raw food world for any length of time you most likely have heard of Shazzie.
This is a very common question that I get and one that actually surprises me. Not because it isn't a very good question but often because it comes from parents who have never really analyzed their children's diet before. Many parents are feeding their kids processed foods, a variety of cooked
made hemp milk for the first time today and made a chocolate shake. I thought is was pretty tasty, although not something that will be calling to me in the middle of the night. I did just throw some stuff together though so I will be looking for more ...
Strawberries!!! My kids and I have been eating them non-stop. My toddler calls them “ballies” and asks for them 3-4 times per day. Yum!
ENTERTAINING EVENING
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A Nutritionist Eats
Food & Health. All Natural.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
An Entertaining Evening
As I was reading an article in the most recent Gourmet, it occurred to me. I was meant to live in the 50's, host fabulous cocktail parties - complete with a too-cute dress, apron and heels - a dirty martini in one hand and a tray of hors devours in the other...and while this sounds great to me in theory it didn't take me too long to realize I would be forced to live without things like my iphone, laptop, blogs etc so I quickly got back to reality. But it is true, there is nothing I like more than having friends over for some cocktails and hors devours.
A Nutritionist Eats
Food & Health. All Natural.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
An Entertaining Evening
As I was reading an article in the most recent Gourmet, it occurred to me. I was meant to live in the 50's, host fabulous cocktail parties - complete with a too-cute dress, apron and heels - a dirty martini in one hand and a tray of hors devours in the other...and while this sounds great to me in theory it didn't take me too long to realize I would be forced to live without things like my iphone, laptop, blogs etc so I quickly got back to reality. But it is true, there is nothing I like more than having friends over for some cocktails and hors devours.
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Anda ingin menjana lebih pendapatan?Saya ingin mengajak anda di dalam BISNES Tupperware yang mudah dan murah tanpa risiko tinggi. Anda tidak perlukan ribuan RM untuk memulakan bisnes ini. Oleh itu anda tidak perlu mengeluarkan duit simpanan anda atau meminjam wang dari bank.
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1. Diketuai oleh Leader yang mesra, prihatin dan senang dihubungi setiap masa.
2. Team Mybiznet telah berjaya melahirkan ramai STAR dan VIP Consultant, serta dalam proses menyusun strategi untuk melahirkan kumpulan Director seramai mungkin
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3. Mybiznet menyediakan web yang ber'shopping cart' yang amat praktikal serta memudahkan urusan pembelian melaluinya, dan yang pasti boleh diakses oleh semua dealer/ consultant di bawahnya.
Charlie went to Silas's birthday party at a local park. Cindy & Scott brought a t-ball set for the kids to play baseball while getting the food set up. Charlie had never played t-ball before but he had a blast!
MEUSEUM
Friedrichshafen is on Lake Constance, on the border of Germany. It is a tourist area but the town itself is not very touristy. They are know for conventions & trade shows mainly. We were there with my dad for the huge European Ham Radio show held there every June. My dad is an Amateur Radio operator (Ham) & I have my license too. We met up with my dad's friends, Mr. & Mrs. Gerber.
We stayed at a lovely hotel in town. It was established in 1799. The food was good & a breakfast buffet was included, not very common in Europe. The buffet was huge! It had all the normal European stuff like yogurt, cold meat, cheeses, granola cereal plus stuff for us Americans like bacon, scrambled eggs, and of course my personal favorite - bread! I do not know what the Europeans do to their regular sliced bread but I could wax poetic about it. I justify the extra carbs by all the walking I do on vacation.
We stayed at a lovely hotel in town. It was established in 1799. The food was good & a breakfast buffet was included, not very common in Europe. The buffet was huge! It had all the normal European stuff like yogurt, cold meat, cheeses, granola cereal plus stuff for us Americans like bacon, scrambled eggs, and of course my personal favorite - bread! I do not know what the Europeans do to their regular sliced bread but I could wax poetic about it. I justify the extra carbs by all the walking I do on vacation.
