Channapatna Wooden Toys

Channapatna toys have got this name from the place where they are manufactured. Channapatna is a small town near Bangalore, India. These are a special variety of wooden toys and dolls. Traditionally these toys were made by lacquering either ivory wood or rosewood or sandalwood, with organic, non-toxic vegetable colours. Now recycled pine wood and beech wood are also used to make the toys. 

History of these toys dates back to the era of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore from mid 18th century to the end of 18th century who invited artisans from Persia to teach the the local artisans to make wooden toys.

This toy industry has experienced many ups and downs with no proper backing and marketing. Still it has evolved and transformed itself to compete with the growing market. Now we can get a variety of home decor accessories, dinning utilities, kitchen wares and many more varieties along with the traditional toys and dolls. I have even come across many on-line stores selling these toys exclusively. 

From a long time I was wishing to have some of these and few days back they made an entry into my home...have a look what I have got *smiles*.

The first snap I took, just after getting the items...

Falling in love again and again with the musician set. 

A two in one product- a fridge magnet cum planter...

And some pretty yellows..."the beautiful ladies"
Now I am a proud owner of these beauties...

Don't you think my selection/collection is good *smiles*

Instant Dahi Wada or Bread Dahi Wada

First of all a very very very 

Happy Holi To You All....

This recipe is dedicated to all those "who love to cook, but don't have time to cook". During festivals we all should be ready with some quick recipes for guests. Today I am sharing one of my all time favorite recipe that has rescued me many time when I had to serve something handmade but didn’t had enough time for preparation. This is for all lazy girls and boys who want to eat something very tasty, tangy, yummy, but don’t have much time and patience for cooking. 

Ingredients for making 4 Wadas
1- Bread slices-8
2- Boiled Potato-2 to 3 (medium sized)

3- Yoghurt- 2 cup
4- Green chilies (Chopped)- 2
5- Onion (Chopped )-1 (medium sized)
6- Coriander Leaves ( Chopped)- 2 tsp
7- Fried Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
8- Chili powder - 1/2 tsp
9- Salt

10-Black Salt
11- Pomegrante- 2 tbsp (optional)
12- Sugar-2 tbsp
13- Tamarind Sweet Chutney
14- Coriander Chutney
15- Fine Sev/Bhujia- 2 tbsp

Step-1
Make a mixture of yogurt, sugar and salt (according to taste). In a bowl mix boiled mashed potato, half of the green chili, onion, coriander leaves, fried cumin powder, chili powder, salt, pomegranate seeds and black salt. Keep half of these ingredients for garnishing.

Step-2

Cut the bread slices in round shape by using a cookie cutter or use a stainless steel glass as I use. Two bread circles are required for one wada.

Step-3

I also cut a small hole in the middle, to give it the look of a wada. You can use a doughnut cutter to give the exact shape of wada. Now fill the potato mixture in the bread like sandwich.

Step-4

Once the stuffing is filled, take around half cup of yogurt mixture in a plate and on that place two stuffed bread.

Step-5

This is the last step, now we have to assemble all the things together on the serving plate. You can keep all the items ready and do this step just before serving. Add tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, chopped onion, green chili, coriander leaves, chili powder, fried cumin powder, pomegranate seeds. Top it up with fine sev. (A quick recipe of tamarind chutney and coriander chutney is at the end of this post)

Hope you will like this recipe and I bet if you will serve something like this to your family memebers or friends you will become a cooking star just in one day *smiles*. 

Coriander Chutney

1- Coriander leaves - 2 cups chopped

2- Green chilies- 1 or 2

3- Tomato- 2 cups chopped

4- Garlic - 2 tsp chopped

5- Salt according to taste

(Grind all the ingredients together and chutney is ready.)

Tamarind Chutney

This chutney is usually a sweet chutney.

1- Tamarind-1/2 cup

2- Dates -1/2 cup

3- Jaggery- 1/2 cup

4- Salt according to taste

5- Red chilies-1 or 2

6- Fried cumin powder-1/2 tsp

(Soak all the ingredients in warm water for 30 minutes and then grind all the items together. Then chutney is ready.)