Wishing you, your family and your team a very happy and prosperous New Year 2009
BSS & Family What can be said in New Year rhymes, That's not been said a thousand times? The new years come, the old years go, We know we dream, we dream we know. We rise up laughing with the light, We lie down weeping with the night. We hug the world until it stings, We curse it then and sigh for wings. We live, we love, we woo, we wed, We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead. We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear, And that's the burden of a year. By -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. By - Ann Landers New Years History The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison. The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days. Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year's Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years. Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year. NEW YEAR RESOLUTION It's always been hard to stick to 'New Years <http://living.oneindia.in/tag/new+year> Resolution'. Most often the vows remain unaccomplished expiring as early as February 1st. Now, an expert has said that people need to have a self-prescribed 'game plan' to materialize their goals. University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist and author of 'Living Smart: 5 Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever', has said that with a little planning anyone can turn a resolution into a habit and a kept promise. Klapow has thus offered five tips to succeed in this annual ritual, which include: 1. Set a specific goal. "Know exactly what you're trying to achieve. For example, exercise is not a goal, but walking three days a week for 20 minutes is a goal," said Klapow. He further added that more major changes need short- and long-term goals. 2. Monitor forward steps. "Keep track of what you're doing toward change. Mark the calendar, diary or tick off the checklist every time you achieve the new behavior. Self-accountability has a lot to do with happy habits," he said. 3. Arrange to succeed. "Chiefly this means modifying your environment to remove barriers. Put exercise clothes out at night for a morning workout, or to cut back on sweets get them out of the house or keep them out of reach," said Klapow. 4. Recruit a support team. "Research clearly shows that having others support you in behavior change lends help toward success. Ask family and friends to advocate and cheer you on, and show them markers of progress along the way," he said. 5. Treats as reward "It is human nature to expect a reward from hard work, and research shows rewards help solidify behaviour change. So plan now for treating yourself after consistently sticking with a New Year's resolution," said Klapow. AGENCIES Happy New Year Let us all gather round and cheer, With a drink of wine or an ice cold beer Perhaps you're like me and don't drink the swill, Or your like my grandparents who live on pills. Maybe this world seems harsh at times, Or its just that most of us just like to whine. I'd say that this is a great place to be, It all depends on how we can see. True we've had bad things in the past, But we know in our hearts that these will not last. If we try our best to be simple and pure, There's nothing our hopes and dreams cannot cure. So, I don't know the value this is worth, But lets all try to be happy and heal Mother Earth! Happy New Year! New Year Recipes Add zest to this years New Year celebrations by making yummy and lip-smacking dishes! Given here is a collection of New Year recipes inclusive of snacks, drinks, cakes and desserts. Try them out for your family and friends and delight them with your culinary skills. List of New Year's Recipes * Frankies <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#frankies> * Beetroot Sandwich <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#beetroot-sandwich> * Sweet French Toast <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#sweet-french-toast > * Dahi ke Kabab <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#dahi-ke-kabab> * Gajar ki Kanji <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#gajar-ki-kanji> * Chocolate Brownie <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#chocolate-brownie> * Malpua <http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-recipes.html#malpua> Frankies Ingredients 2 cups: Flour 1 tsp: Dry yeast 1 tsp: Oil 1 tsp: Sugar Salt to taste or 1 tsp Lukewarm water to knead dough Filling: Vegetarian or non-vegetarian (as per your choice) Oil to deep fry Method 1. Dissolve sugar in 1 cup lukewarm water. 2. Sprinkle dry yeast over it and leave in a draught - free place to froth. 3. Now, sieve the flour, add salt and rub in the 1 tsp oil. 4. Knead into a soft dough till the dough feels firm and elastic and no longer sticky. 5. Place dough in a deep vessel, well dusted with flour, and cover vessel with cling film or a thick damp cloth. Keep in a draught-free place to rise. 6. Shape dough into small balls. Roll into flat rounds. 7. Place filling in the center, lengthwise and cover to seal from all sides, using water to pinch and seal. Deep fry till brown and serve. Beetroot Sandwich Ingredients 1 no: French bread, halved length-wise 250 gm: Cooked beetroot-peeled and sliced 150 gm: Sauted mushrooms-sliced 100 gm: Sliced cheese 1 no: Apple, sliced 2 tbsp: Olive oil / melted butter 1 tsp: Chopped garlic 1 tbsp: Olive oil 1 tbsp: Basil leaves 1 tbsp: Olive oil Pepper to season A handful of young beetroot leaves A dash of red wine/ vinegar A squeeze of lemon juice A dash of olive oil for finish Method 1. Brush the bread with oil mixed with garlic. 2. Sprinkle with pepper. 3. Place under a grill to color. 4. Set beetroot slices aside. 5. Toss leaves in a pan with wine, lemon juice and oil. 6. Allow it to wilt over a moderate flame. 7. Toss apple and basil in hot oil. Season it. 8. Arrange all ingredients on the bread in any order. 9. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of olive oil over the top. Sweet French Toast Ingredients 8 slices of one day old bread 3 no: Eggs 125 ml: Cream 1 1/2 tbsp: Castor Sugar 1/2 tsp: Grated sweet lime rind 1 tbsp: Orange juice 1 tsp: Cinnamon powder 100 gm: Butter Sifted icing sugar Cut fruits Method 1. Whisk eggs, cream, sugar, rind, spice and juice together. 2. Dip bread into egg mixture. 3. Heat half the butter in a frying pan. Add half the bread. Cook until golden on both sides. 4. Repeat with remaining butter and bread. 5. Serve toast dusted with icing sugar and accompanied with a little fruit if you wish. Dahi ke Kabab Ingredients 1-1/2 cups: Hung yogurt 1/4 cup: Besan (chick pea flour) - dry roasted over low heat till slightly darker 1 tbsp: Finely chopped coriander leaves 2 tbsp: Finely chopped onions 1 tsp: Finely chopped green chillies 1 tsp: Roasted and powdered cumin seeds 1 tsp: Salt Oil / Ghee - for frying Method 1. Mix all the ingredients except the ghee, and chill for an hour. 2. Shape the mixture into flat rounds (like tikkis) and pan fry over medium heat till brown on both sides. The kababs are quite soft, so you have to handle them carefully. 3. Serve hot with green chutney. Gajar ki Kanji Ingredients 250 gm: Carrots-preferably the dark variety (called kaali gajar) 3 tbsp: Powdered mustard seeds 6 cups: Water 2 tbsp: Salt Method 1. Peel the carrots, and cut them into approx. 7 cm / 3" pieces, not too thin (about finger size). 2. Boil the water and add the carrots to it. When the water comes to a boil again, shut off the heat and leave to cool. 3. Add the salt and the mustard powder, and transfer into a jar with a lid, and keep this in the sun, to mature. 4. In sunny weather, it takes 3-4 days, for the taste of the mustard to become strong. 5. Do not keep the jar in the sun, after it is ready. Chocolate Brownie Ingredients 6 tbsp: Cocoa 2 no: Eggs 50 gm: Chopped walnuts 150 gm: Flour 100 ml: Milk 200 gm: Sugar 100 gm: Butter Method 1. Melt the butter, sugar, cocoa and milk together. 2. Add remaining ingredients. 3. Stir to mix. 4. Bake in a square baking tin at 180 degree C for 25 minutes. 5. Cool and cut into squares. Malpua Ingredients 250 ml: Yoghurt 3 tbsp: Flour 1 tsp: Roasted Fennel Seeds 3-4 tbsp: Ghee / oil for frying For Sugar Syrup 200 gm sugar 200 ml water Rind of 1 sweet lime Method 1. Mix yoghurt, flour and fennel seeds. 2. Stir until a smooth batter is formed. 3. Heat ghee / oil in a pan and make dumplings by frying a spoonful of the batter at a time over a gentle flame. 4. Remove from the pan and drain. 5. Prepare the syrup with sugar, water and rind. Dip the malpuas into the syrup. 6. Garnish with sweet lime segments and cream. Decorate with silver leaf. 7. Serve hot / cold. DISCLAIMER: Notice : This e-mail and any attachments may contain information which is confidential to the addressee and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you may not copy, forward, disclose or otherwise use it in any way whatsoever. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, please e-mail the sender by replying to this message, and deleting the original and any printout thereof. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "BETTER PERSONALITY GROUP" group. 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