“The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol” written by David McGillivary and Walter Zelin Jr., promises to give audiences a new twist on an old, familiar tale.

The annual fundraiser for Holy Trinity Catholic School is a comedy musical that will be presented Saturday, Nov. 18, in two performances, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center.

Wine and appetizers will be served at each performance. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at Holy Trinity Church or at the door.

Cast members are Anne Blondheim, Diane Clayton, Melanie Letsche, Denny Mahowald and Ranae Puterbaugh. Also helping with the production is Theresa Bell. Director is Mike Lyon, assisted by musical director Julie Hohm.

In a festive mood, the ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society mount another assault on the classics with their stage version of “A Christmas Carol.”

They enthusiastically portray a dizzy array of characters from the Dickensian favorite (and a few which aren’t), engineer some novel audience participation while bravely contending with an intrusive PA system, and wrap their vocal cords and feet around two original, show stopping songs.

Ranae Puterbaugh, dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge, stands next to director Mike Lyon wearing a sheet during a playful break from rehearsing.

Crack Coleslaw
From Melanie Letsche
    2 cloves garlic, diced finely
    1 pound hamburger
    10-ounce bag coleslaw mix
    1 Tablespoon Sriracha
    2 Tablespoons soy sauce
    1 Tablespoon vinegar
    Salt and pepper
    1 teaspoon sesame seed

Brown burger and drain Mix all ingredients. Chill.

Neiman Marcus Cookies
Submitted by cast member Ann Blondheim
    Full Recipe                           Half Recipe
    2 cups butter                       1 cup butter
    2 cups brown sugar              1 cup brown sugar
    2 cups sugar                        1 cup sugar
    4 eggs                                 2 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla                ½ teaspoon vanilla
    4 cups flour                         2 cups flour
    1 teaspoon salt                    ½ teaspoon salt
    5 cups blended oatmeal        2 ½ cups blended oatmeal
    2 teaspoon baking powder    1 teaspoon baking powder
    2 teaspoon soda                  1 teaspoon soda
    24 ounces chocolate chips    12 ounces chocolate chips
    8 ounce Hershey Bar grated  4 ounce Hershey Bar grated
    3 cups chopped nuts            1 ½ cups chopped nuts opt

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder.

Cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Cool on rack

Apple Dumplings
Submitted by cast member Ranae Puterbaugh
    2 large apples, peeled and cored
    2 10-ounce cans of crescent rolls
    1 cup butter
    1 1/2 cups white sugar
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    12-ounce can 7-Up, Sprite or other
    citrus soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

Separate crescent rolls into triangles. Cut apples into wedges and roll each wedge up in a crescent roll triangle. Arrange the rolls in the baking dish, allowing room for the dough to expand.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Pour sauce over the rolls. Pour soda over the rolls.

Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.

Favorite Egg Bake
    6 or 7 slices of bread, cubed
    2 cups ham (or other meat or veggies)
    1/2 pound grated cheese
    8 eggs
    2 cups milk
    1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
    1/4 cup melted butter

Grease 9-by-13-inch pan. Mix bread, meat (or veggies) and cheese and place in bottom of pan. Mix eggs, milk, butter and mustard and pour over ingredients in pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour

Ann Blondheim tries out a beard for one of the characters in the play.