The Vintage Train Ride - Veterantoget

Baby FECS requested to take train rides. When our Little FECS was small, we brought him for a vintage train ride. Now it's Baby FECS' turn.

The vintage train only runs during special events. It is the Danish public holidays - Pentecost and we had a few days off. Thus, we decided to take the vintage train ride with Baby FECS. The event this time round was called "Veterantræff" meaning all things vintage. 

This was the entrance/exit to/of the vintage fair:

It is a fun fair with an exhibition of vintage cars, vintage trucks, vintage buses, vintage engines.

There were also stalls selling tools to maintain these vintage machines. 

There were also volunteers dressing up in traditional European clothes. 

There were also scenes from the wild wild west from volunteers

There was even a stall, where you can get your hair styled up like the old Victorian era for a fee. 

There are also some amusement rides, farm animals for the kids and a military display of planes and tanks. But the amusement rides weren't cheap - 30 DKK per rider for kid and it had to be purchased at the central stall in the fair.

There was also a flea market. We bought some toys for the kids and a pair of rain boots for Baby FECS. Thus, it is a mixture of everything. 

Below is the map to the vintage fair this summer 2019:

Here is the link to more information on the vintage fair 2019:

https://veterantoget.dk/produkt/graested-veterantraef-i-pinsen-2019/

The tickets to the vintage fair cost 100 DKK for a day ticket for an adult. The vintage train ride was included in the entrance ticket to the vintage fair. Kids under the age of 14 is free. It is best to buy tickets online, as the queue to buy tickets over at the fair was enormous. There was a separate line for those who hold online tickets, and there wasn't any queue there. Here is the link to the online ticket sale:

https://veterantraef.billetexpressen.dk/

The vintage train journey starts inside the compound of the vintage fair. Thus, even if you only would like to take the vintage train and didn't wish to go to the vintage fair, it will still be the same price. The vintage train was located all the way at the other end from the entrance of the fair.

The vintage train rides was unlimited, and you could go as many times as you want. The train ride start at the stop within the vintage fair compound and went to Græsted, Mårum and return back again to the stop inside the vintage fair compound. The whole trip took approx. 40 minutes.

There is a connection train from Hillerød station to the station within the vintage fair compound called Græsted station. It cost 20 DKK, but children under 3 travel for free. Since we drove to the vintage fair compound at Græsted, we didn't take this connection train. 

The address of the fair that we drove to was:

Holtvej 40 3230 Bræsted 

Parking was free and there was no problem finding parking - lots of space. Use road Holtvej 67 to enter the parking place.

There is a train time-table, which you can check from the vintage train website www.veterantoget.dk

9 June 2019 (3Y23D): BAby FECS beside the vintage train

There is a special wagon where you can have a sit down meal. They serve some basics such as some Danish open sandwiches, cakes, coffee, tea and soda. 

The waitresses/waiters were dressed in olden days attire. 

We had some Danish open sandwich and a sweet pastry.

You will be entertained, while you dine onboard the vintage train too

It was a three day fair from 8-10 June 2019. 3-day ticket cost 20 DKK per person. There were also camping place for caravan.

The link below brings you to the latest arrangements of the vintage train ride:

https://veterantoget.dk/det-sker/

It was a wonderful day, lovely weather, and Daddy FECS likes to look at vintage cars. So we had a wonderful time together as a family.

Milo Sweetened with Dried Dates

Serves 1

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup (250 ml) fresh skimmed milk
2. 1 TBS Milo
3. 1 dried date pitted

Directions:
Add all ingredients in the order listed above in a blender and blend until smooth.

Additional Information:
This is a comfort food for me. It reminded me of my childhood growing up in Singapore, how my grandma would make a cup of Milo for me, when I stayed overnight at her place. I like chocolate milk, but nothing beats the chocolaty Milo drink. Traditionally, I use condensed milk. This is a healthier recipe, as it uses dates to sweeten the Milo drink, instead of condensed milk.

Fiskefrikadeller - Danish Fish Cake with Wheat Germ

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1. 600 - 675 g cod or salmon or a combination, skinned, boned and cut into smaller pieces
2. 1-2 eggs
3. 1 carrot diced or any other vegetable such as squash, fennikel, celery, leek or even potato
4. 1/2 red pepper bell or chili diced
5. 1 clove garlic
6. 1 slice of ginger diced (optional)
7. 1 handful of parsley or chives chopped
8. 3 TBS wheat germ or rolled oats or a combination of both
10. 1 TBS flax seeds ground
11. 1 TBS herbs such as dried basil, thyme or oregano (optional)
12. 1 TBS lemon juice or capers diced
13. 100 ml low fat fresh milk (traditional Danish recipe uses heavy cream)
14. 1 tsp salt
15. 6 turns black pepper mill
16. 2 TBS cooking oil (or you can use a mixture of butter and cooking oil)
17. Dill for garnishing

Directions:

1. Dice carrots and red pepper fruit by hand, food processor or blender. If using blender, you need to add water and pulse it. Drain off the liquid and press dry the carrots and red pepper fruit.

2. Blend all ingredients (except cooking oil and butter) by hand or in a blender/food processor til combined and smooth. The mixture will be a bit sticky.

3. Let the mixture rest for 15-30 minutes in the fridge.

4. Heat cooking oil and butter on a pan.

5. Use a tablespoon to form the mixture into fish cakes and fry them on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until golden using medium heat to ensure the fish is cooked without burning the fish cakes. It's important to have patience when frying the fish cakes and not rush it with a higher heat.

6. Sprinkle some chopped dill and serve.

Tips:

You can also bake them in the oven at 180 degree celsius. Give it 7 minutes on each side.

Video Demonstration:

Additional Information:

Recently, I am reading up about nutrition and did a detailed analysis of the different nutrients in food. Fish comes up on the top for almost all the nutrients, especially salmon at the very top comparing with all the different kinds of food including vegetables. Thus, I am more determined than ever to incorporate more food into our family's diet.

But alas, it hasn't been an easy task. Our Little FECS started liking fish as a toddler, and then somewhere along the way(I don't know what happened), he doesn't like fish anymore. Our Baby FECS hasn't really like fish from day one as a toddler, although she does like salmon on good days (phew). Daddy FECS prefers beef to fish. Although he does eat fish, we just don't eat it as regularly as is recommended by the Danish health authorities to consume fish two times a week.

If I prepare fish the Chinese way - by steaming them... the kids run away and Daddy FECS eat them, but not as heartily as he would eat the Danish fiskefrikadeller.

Then bingo, I thought why don't I try to make the Danish fish cakes "fiskefrikadeller" that all the Danes love. Apparently, I read that this is the method the Danes make their kids fall in love with fish. I don't know why I waited almost 18 years in Denmark to try making it myself!!!

But better late than never. I got down to it as soon as I could today. Daddy FECS and Little FECS ate many of them. Baby FECS only add half a fiskefrikadeller :-( She snacked too much along the day to have sufficient appetite for dinner.

I dice the carrots and red pepper bells using the Magimix blender, using water and pulsing it. You can actually use half of the water than what was shown in the picture above.

Drain off the liquid and press dry the carrots and red pepper fruit.

Don't throw away the water. You can drink it like you are drinking your regular water. It tastes like water, but with all the vitamins in it.

Add all the ingredients into the blender... such as 1 table spoon of oats

2 tablespoon of wheat germ

Crack in 2 eggs

Add 1 teaspoon of salt

Add a few turns of the peppermill as desired

I added leek here

Add a handful of parsley. Pre-chopping it is not required.

Add a clove of garlic

Add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs... here I added dried basil...

Add in the diced carrot and red pepper fruit

Add in the fish - here I added a combination of cod fish and salmon. I first cut the fish fillets into smaller fishes. I then add it into the blender with the other ingredients... 

Lastly, add 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds and a teaspoon of chopped ginger

Add 50 ml of milk. Some recipes call for 150 ml. The Magimix blender works fine with just 50 ml of milk, but it will be faster if more liquid is added.

I start at speed 1 and slowly work it up to speed 2 and ended with the last few seconds on speed 3.

I also use the spatula while blending to scrap down the side and guide the mixture towards the centre of the blender.

The blending is done :-) Ideally let the mixture rest in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.

Heat up pan with 2 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 teaspoon of butter.

Use a tablespoon to form the mixture into fish cakes and fry them on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until golden using medium heat to ensure the fish is cooked without burning the fish cakes. 

Thus, it's important to have patience when frying the fish cakes and not to try to quicken the cooking with a higher heat.

9

Danish Fish Cakes called "fiskefrikadeller" ready to be served with mashed potatoes or Danish rye bread along with tartar sauce or remoulade sauce :-)

References:

https://thegutenappetit.com/2018/01/06/178-fiskefrikadeller/
https://sweetsoursavory.com/blog/2013/9/16/fish-cakes-fiskefrikadeller
https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/danish_fish_frikadeller_98237
http://thefamilydinnerbook.com/recipes/2013/12/31/fish-cakes-danish-fiske-frikadeller/
https://lineh.dk/opskrifter/fiskefrikadeller-uden-mel
https://hjerteforeningen.dk/opskrifter/mini-fiske-frikadeller-med-kartoffelsalat/
https://www.meyersmad.dk/lav-mad/opskrifter/fiskefrikadeller-med-hurtig-remoulade/
https://www.valdemarsro.dk/fiskefrikadeller/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-uUrqprqe4
https://youtu.be/gIeYHsTRIfc
https://youtu.be/K3ei9nAxbGs
http://farskoekkenskole.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Fiskedeller-og-mos.pdf

Manganese: Just 1/3 Cup Hazelnuts (33 g) A Day

Manganese

Do you know that eating 1/3 cup of hazelnuts (33 g) a day fully covers your daily manganese need (based on adult's need)?

Recommended daily intake: 2.3mg

• 0.003mg (0-6 months old)
• 0.6mg (7-12 months old)
• 1.2mg (1-3 years old)
• 1.5mg (4-8 years old)
• 1.6-1.9mg (9-13 years old)
• 1.6-2.2mg (14-18 years old)
• 1.8mg for women (19 years old & above)
• 2.3mg for men (19 years & above)
• 2mg for pregnant women
• 2.6mg for breast-feeding women

Functions:

Brain and nerve function, form bones and cartilage, protect cells from damage, activates enzymes that help metabolism of proteins, fat and carbohydrates.

100 g of hazelnuts covers 309% RDI.

References:
https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3116/2

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie with Oats & Chia Seeds

This recipe makes exactly the amount of this 1 mug

Preparation and cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 2

Ingredients:
- 2 cups (500 ml) of fresh skimmed milk
- 1 tsp matcha green tea powder
- 1 TBS chia seeds
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 avocado
- 3 dried dates or 1 banana
- 1/4 tsp vanilla powder (optional)

Directions:
1. Soak chia seeds with milk overnight in the fridge.
2. Mix together with other ingredients and blend for a few seconds until smooth.

Additional Information:
This is another version of my green tea smoothie. I got inspired to add oats and chia seeds after reading in other blogs on overnight oats with chia seeds. However, I didn't like the texture of it and prefer to drink it as a smoothie. The ingredients are perfectly blended in a smoothie and in my opinion is tastier.

I read that it is important to soak the chia seeds to expand it, so that it can be easily digested.

You can either sweeten it with three dates or one banana, depending on your preference.

References:
https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/matcha-overnight-oats-protein/

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/344314333988542265/

https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/260575528422445141/

http://www.adashofcompassion.com/2014/10/superpower-matcha-vanilla-overnight-oats-a-giveaway/

https://blog.numitea.com/matcha-overnight-oats/

Strawberry Milk with Oats

Serves 3

Ingredients:
1. 2 cup (500 ml) skimmed fresh milk 0.1 % fat
2. 1/4 cup rolled oats
3. 1/4 tsp vanilla powder
4. 1 tsp flax seeds ground
6. 10 frozen strawberries
5. 1/8 cup or 4 TBS chopped almonds
7. 6 dried dates pitted
8. 1 tsp hazelnut butter (optional)

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in the order listed above in a blender and blend until smooth.

Additional Information:
This is a favorite of Baby FECS, and so is mine. When Baby FECS refuses to eat breakfast, it is a good way to sneak some hidden oats into her diet, so that she can go to kindergarten, without feeling hungry and with the energy from the oats to power her. She is always willing to drink strawberry milk, as she likes the pink color of the beverage.

I highly recommend adding vanilla powder, as it enhances the strawberry milk and make it more aromatic.

If it's not easy for you to get vanilla powder, you can add vanilla sugar instead. If you do so, just omit the dates.

This is the organic vanilla powder I use

I sometimes also like to add in hazelnut butter, if I crave a nutty richness. Sometimes I add 1/8 cup (30 g) chopped almonds in too.

Ways to Eat Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds can be considered a super food. 

The nutrient profile of sunflower seeds is comparable to nuts, but it is cheaper and therefore gives better value for money. It contains more Vit E, Vit B1, Vit B6, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium than nuts. It is also cheaper and gives better value for money.

Per serving of 1/3 cup (25 g), sunflower seeds is high in Vit E (44%), Vit B1 (25%), manganese (25%), copper (23%), magnesium (20%), selenium (19%), Vit B6 (17%), folic acid (14%), Vit B3 (11%), protein (11%), dietary fiber (9%), iron (7%), zinc (8%), Vit B2 (5%), potassium (4%)

Among a total of 23 nutrients (protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals), sunflower seeds come up among top 10 in 5 of them.

Sprinkle some sunflower seeds to your strawberries dipped in homemade Nutella :-)

Enrich your store-bought or homemade Nutella with sunflower seeds :-)

Enrich your store-bought or homemade peanut butter with sunflower seeds :-)

Ways to Eat Wheat Germ

Sprinkle some wheat germ on your strawberries coated with homemade Nutella or homemade peanut butter :-)



Chocolate Banana Energy Balls dipped in wheat germ



When making pancakes, add 2 tablespoons of wheat germ to the batter.


When making Danish fish cake called "fiskefrikadeller", add a tablespoon of wheat germ to the batter.



When making Danish fish cake called "frikadeller", add a tablespoon of wheat germ to the batter.



When making German Schnitzel, coat it with ground wheat germ. I use the dry mill of the Magimix blender to grind the wheat germ.