The Rep News

Holiday News and Events including a Holiday Appetizer recipe

SHARE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH THE CAST OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Following all A CHRISTMAS CAROL performances, costumed actors will be in the Pabst Theater lobby collecting donations for the Next Door Foundation. Founded in 1969, Next Door plays a vital community role by serving more than 2,150 Milwaukee central city children, youth and parents each year. Their early intervention efforts especially benefit children who may be at risk for later school failure. Even the youngest children benefit from early education programs that promote confidence, an eagerness to learn, self-discipline, curiosity and communication skills. Next Door also promotes positive outcomes for children 6 to 16 years of age by strengthening academics, emphasizing relationships to family, building peer support and encouraging service to the community. Their vision is that the families they serve become self-sufficient and contributing members of our community. All funds gathered at A CHRISTMAS CAROL will help make the holidays brighter for those in need. Please remember to give generously!

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT STOCKING STUFFER?
Rep Gift Passes make perfect stocking stuffers for all the theater lovers in your life - even for yourself! Each pass is good for one ticket for any 2009/10 Rep show, any theater, anytime. Value gift passes are $25 each (Side Orchestra and Balcony seats). Prime gift passes are $45 each. Plus, for each $100 in Gift Passes purchased you will receive a free Value Gift Pass for the 2009/10 season. Purchase Rep Gift Passes at milwaukeerep.com or call 414-224-9490.
Gift certificates are also available.

MILWAUKEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL
Whisk the kids to a magical wonderland as three downtown parks are lit with thousands of twinkling lights and dozens of animated sculptures. Combine this with hundreds of holiday happenings, plus a convenient Jingle Bus tour, and you have the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival (November 19 – January 3), a six-week celebration of downtown’s vitality. Led by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival is the city’s largest display of holiday cheer. You will be amazed by the transformation of three downtown parks making it a must-see family attraction! Cathedral Square Park will be adorned with handmade ornaments from 50 metro Milwaukee schools, Pere Marquette Park will feature “Santa’s Little Helpers” and Zeidler Union Square will present “Holiday High Seas.”

The Jingle Bus returns this year and provides convenient transportation to view the Holiday Lights Festival for only $1, leaving from the Warming House location at Plankinton Arcade in The Shops of Grand Avenue, 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue between 6 – 9 pm on Thursdays through Sundays, November 20 – January 3. Hot cocoa, coffee and cookies will be served to awaiting Jingle Bus riders. Coloring books and crayons will also be distributed to the little ones. Call Milwaukee Downtown for more information at 414-220-4700 to receive a free holiday guide or visit their website at: MilwaukeeHolidayLights.com.

Annie Jansen Jurczyk and Jim Pickering Create Delicious Holiday Appetizers

On Sunday, October 11, Development Director Annie Jansen Jurczyk and Resident Actor Jim Pickering (aka Ebenezer Scrooge), were Celebrity Guest Chefs at the first annual Milwaukee Home and Fine Living Wine & Dine Event. Over 7,500 people attended the two-day event held at the Midwest Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee.

Many who know Annie through her work at The Rep aren’t aware that in her free time she is an accomplished cook. Her friends and family have enjoyed her culinary creations and she’s even been auctioned off as a guest chef for area fundraisers, including The Rep’s Annual Gala. Although Jim is also multi-talented, he isn’t particularly known for his cooking expertise. But being a first-class entertainer, and always willing to try new things, he embraced his role as Celebrity Chef’s Assistant.

Annie and Jim demonstrated on the Culinary Stage how to prepare Tiny Tim Turnovers, a scrumptious appetizer perfect for holiday entertaining. Looking like they could have their own cooking show on the Food Network, the cooking team expertly demonstrated how to prepare the appetizers. A chop here, a fold there, a little of this and a little of that. Annie shared many of her cooking tips and the audience was eager to learn more. As the demonstration concluded, MATC culinary students walked around and distributed the freshly-baked Tiny Tim Turnovers. Based on the positive audience response, we thought it would be a great idea to share Annie’s recipe here. Enjoy!

Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director

Tiny Tim Turnovers

These tasty treats are made using phyllo dough that is found in the freezer section of your grocery store. One box includes a twin pack of dough – each containing 20 sheets, measuring 14 by 18 inches. Thaw dough slowly, in it’s box and wrapping bag, overnight.

Ingredients for the filling:
3 Apples (peeled, cored and cubed)
1 tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
1 T. Butter
1 Pomegranate
(see below for instructions on how to remove seed)

In a small sauce pan melt the butter and add apple, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stirring frequently, cook until apples soften (about 5 minutes). Take off heat and cool. Add pomegranate and mix until combined.

To assemble the turnovers, lay the phyllo sheets on a clean work surface and cover with a damp cloth. Lay out a single sheet of phyllo and spray it with a good quality cooking spray – like Smart Balance. Place another sheet of phyllo dough on top of the first sheet, and spray again. Top with the third sheet of phyllo. Do not spray. Cut the stack of phyllo sheets lengthwise into three strips using a pizza cutter or knife. For each triangle, spoon a tablespoon of the filling about 1 inch from one end of each strip. Fold the end over the filling at a 45-degree angle. Continue folding to form a triangle that encloses the filling, using the entire strip. Repeat with remaining phyllo and apple mix.

At this point you can freeze unbaked turnovers for a later date. Layer with wax or parchment paper so that they won’t stick together, or place on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm, then place in a freezer bag.

Place turnovers (frozen or fresh), on a greased baking sheet. Spray the tops of the triangles with cooking spray. Bake in a 375° oven about 15 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and let cool.

(To remove seeds open the pomegranate in a bowl filled with cold water and let the seeds sink to the bottom of the bowl. The unusable white pith floats to the top. Skim the pith off and strain the water to collect the seeds.)