Økodag 2017 - Lundholm Farm

Baby FECS has recently showed keen interest in books, especially books with animals. She would bring the book to me and gestured me to read to her. She would point to the animals. So I really wanted to bring her to the zoo and the farm. We did the zoo last weekend. So this weekend, we thought of bringing Baby FECS to the farm to see, touch and smell some farm animals. Today is the perfect day actually, as it is økodag. Alas, it was hard for us to get out of the doors early... by the time we arrived, it was just past 12pm. Baby FECS fell asleep in the pram just as we arrived the field, the cows were just let out. So we missed the Dancing cows. But we still had a great time educating our Little FECS about the cows, enjoying free ice-cream and bringing home some free organic dairy products. As we got back to the car, Baby FECS woke up at around 1.30pm. So we drove back to the farm to show Baby FECS the cows. The good thing is that by then, most people had left, and we have the whole farm to ourselves, without people blocking our views of the animals. 

So that's that, Baby FECS first visit to the farm and first time meeting a cow :-)

What is Økodag? 

Each spring, the organic cows are being let out into the open, after staying for a long period indoors during winter. It is called "Økodag" meaning the "Organic Day" in Danish. Here is the official website where you can learn more (but it is in Danish):

www.økodag.dk

The event is from 10am to 2pm.

The cows are so excited and happy to be free that the Danes call them "The Dancing Cows." The participating farms will let out the cows at 12pm. It would be good to go there in good time, as it takes some time to walk from the parking to the farmhouse and the fields where the cows are being let out. 

You can go early in the morning at 9.30am, see the animals and then go home after seeing the dancing cows at 12pm. However, it will be very crowded with people, and chances are, it is hard for you to get up-close and personal with the animals. If you stay on after 12pm, the crowds started to thin, and by 1.30pm, you have the whole farm to yourselves to enjoy, well, almost :-)

This spring, we chose the farm nearest to us, called Lundholm, about 28 km from our place and 45 mins drive away. It is located at:

Address

Præstehøjvej 12

3320 Skævinge

At Lundholm, your children can:

1) See the dancing cows being let out to the field

2) Learn about the cows and their different stage of development i.e. new born baby cows and their mum, infant cows, baby cows, "kindergarten-age" cows, "school-age" cows and "teenage" cows (see pictures below)

3) Play at the hay playground

4) Get on a farm truck

5) Enjoy free ice-cream

6) Bring back free organic milk, yogurt, etc.

7) Buy organic grilled sausage 35 DKK, hot chocolate 15 DKK, enjoy a piece of cake 25 DKK

It is a little different at every farm. At some farms, the kids can also pet some baby goats and sheeps (this farm only has baby cows).

At some farms, you don't get free organic products, but you can buy them.

This farm is very organised. It starts by introducing the mother cow and its new born baby.

 This is a special area where the mother cow which just gave birth rest and recuperate with her new born. So sweet and heart-warming, as you could see from the expression of J taking a photo with them :-)

 This is the stable with two baby cows less than 1 week old

 This is the stable with two baby cows less than 1 week old

Close-up of these baby cows less than one week old... wow!

Next to it is the stable with baby cows between 1 week to 30 days old

 Here is the stable for "kindergarten-age" cows from 30 days old to 5 months old.

Here is the stable for "school-age" cows from 5 months old to 13 months old

Here is the stable for the "teenage" cows from 13 months old to 17 months old 

This is the play area made of hay for the children to climb and burn their energy

Here are the farm trucks that the children can climb up and sit

 Baby FECS (11M8D)

We enjoyed the free organic ice-cream :-) 

The Danes bringing their picnic blanket and lunch pack on the grass... it was still very cold though - 8 degree celsius!

You get to bring home some free organic dairy products... milk, yogurt, cheese...

Pineapple Jam

Ingredients

1. 1 pineapple cut and chopped

2. 5 TBS sugar

Directions:

1. Blend pineapple.

2. Place in a pot and heat to boiling

3. Add sugar and simmer down until water is cooked down.

4. Let cool, store in air-tight jar and refrigerate

Additional Information:

If you wish to extend the life-span, you need to add preservative. Otherwise, it should be able to last for a week in the fridge.

J Summary: Learning How to Roller-Blade

Dear J,

Four years ago, Mommy and Daddy were by your side, teaching you how to cycle. Four years later at 8 years old, you are learning how to roller-blade on your own, as Mummy and Daddy are constanly tired taking care of Chastine. Boy, how you have grown! 4 years ago, you were a pre-schooler. Now you are a pre-teen. Thanks for the time together.

Quick Homemade Pizza

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1. Pizza dough from Lagkagehuset or the supermarket

2. A handful of different cheese - mozzarella, etc.

3. 1 pepper bell sliced

4. A handful of mushrooms

5. 1 piece of beef approx. 180g sliced

6. A handful of frozen corns

7. A handful of frozen peas

8. A handful of ruccola salad or parsley as garnish

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 250 degree celsius.

2. Wash, cut, slice and add desired toppings on pizza.

3. Bake for 5 mins or until the cheese turns golden.

Video Demonstration:

https://youtu.be/JIZHyV1FotA

Additional Information:

Pizza dough from Lagekagehuset cost 36 DKK, more than double the price of a pizza dough from the supermarket, but it is very huge, filling the whole oven tray and pre-baked. It is very convenient. Just add whatever toppings you desire or can find from your fridge and bake in the oven for 5 mins at 250 degree celsius.

Because it is so big, we normally couldn't finish it, and have leftovers for J's lunch box the following day.

 

Now it's done :-) I added the raw pepper bells on top and garnish with parsley

Here is how it looked like when I brought it home from the bakery

Matching Colors Using Baby Book & Toys

Age: From 11 months old

Materials:

1. 1 Basket of toys with different colors to match

2. 1 Baby board book on color

Directions:

1. Read the book on color (this can be done at a different time earlier, so that your baby is familiar with the book).

2. Arrange the toys in color in a circle shown in the picture above.

3. Place the toys in a basket.

4. Re-read the book on color, this time around, place the toy of the same color as the page, as you turned the page, and say the name of the color.

5. Continue if your baby shows interest, stop if she doesn't. If so, try it another time, when she is ready.

Additional Information:

Baby FECS (11M7D) has been showing interest in books in the past week. Whenever she explored the toy shelves, the compartment with books is the one she touched the most. In the morning, she would bring me a book that she picked and give it to me, asking me to read to her. Her favorite is the animal board book and this color book. I started showing her matching colors at her diaper changing station, by bringing up a toy color key of the same color as the color of the fish mobile. 

It donned on me that I could do the same with this baby color board book. I placed the pre-selected toys a basket. Then as I turned the page, I would place a toy of the same color on the page and say the name of the color. Baby FECS couldn't match the color herself yet i.e. bringing the toy and placing the toy on the page with the same color, but she was really thrilled, grinning and laughing as I was doing it. She seemed to know the concept. She tried to bring the toy of the same color to place on the page, but sometimes she placed a different color toy, so it wasn't so consistent.

But even if your baby doesn't quite understand the color matching game, it is a good way to teach color in a fun way. This game can be simplified with just one toy per color. I have chosen 3-4 toys per color here.

 3. Place the toys in a basket.

4. As you turn the page, place the toy of the same color on the page and say "Orange. This is orange. Orange goldfish, orange ball, orange cube, etc..."

 Place the red toys on the red page. Say, "Red. This is red... red car, red apple, red container, red triangle, red ball... etc.

  

On the multi-color page, place all the different color toys on it :-)

 22 April 2017 (11M7D): She is more interested in taking the toys out of the basket and putting them back into the basket today.

Oven-Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Cheese

Ingredients:

1. 5 large portobello mushrooms

2. A few slices of cheese to fill the portobello mushrooms

3. 1 TBS olive oil

4. Salt & pepper to taste

5. A bit of parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 220 degree celsius

2. Coat portobello mushrooms with a bowl of olive oil and salt with a brush.

3. Fill the cavity with cheese.

4. Bake in oven for 10 mins until the cheese is melted and golden.

5. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve :-)

Additional Information:

The portobello mushrooms can be filled with more elaborate fillings, but this is a quick and fast way of making them that tastes equally delicious.

We have eaten one, before we remembered to take a picture of the finished product.

Baby Food of the Day: Jerusalem Artichoke Puree

Ingredients:
1. 500g Jerusalem artichokes washed, peeled and chopped coarse
2. 1 large onions 1 quartered
3. 2 garlic cloves
4. Water 500ml

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients into the Philips soup cooker.
2. Fill water to the mark in the soup cooker.
3. Turn to cream soup setting and on the soup cooker.
4. 23 minutes later it is done :-)

Additional Information:
Baby FECS tried this today for the first time and she liked it. I added a little salt, as she is now used to eating our food, and refused food, if salt is not added.

Oven-Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes & Potatoes

Ingredients:

1. 250g Jerusalem artichokes sliced in wedges

2. 250g potatoes sliced in wedges

3. 1 TBS olive oil

4. Salt to taste

5. A sprinkling of parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degree celsius.

2. Place Jerusalem artichokes and potatoes in an oven-proof dish, drizzle and coat and mix well with live oil and salt.

3. Bake in the oven for 45 mins.

4. Garnish with parley and serve :-)

Additional Information:

Years ago, I was served this at a dinner from one of Mr. FECS's friends, and I never forget how tasty the Jerusalem artichokes were. It goes well roasting with potatoes or roasting on its own. Both Mr. FECS and I love it, but our Little FECS didn't like it though.

 Pre-cooked. Note: I used half-cooked potatoes here, since I have already roasted some potatoes.