Goblets & Turkey Marsala

Aperitif Goblets by Linda Starr
pinched, 5 x 2.75 inches

Making smaller pieces in clay is just as challenging as making large pieces, and it's just as fun. I'm using up the last bit of Texas white clay I have and decided to make some smaller goblets with a wavy stems. I can see this size used as an aperitif or a dessert wine.

Roundel Goblets by Linda Starr
pinched, 5.5 x 4.25 inches

Are you ever confused on the meaning of a word? Originally I was calling these goblets rondel, but when I looked up the name I found that rondel can means many things. A rondel can be a type of medieval daggar, a short poem of 14 lines, a round piece of steel in armour to protect a vulnerable body part and several others. I just wanted to refer to the round doughnut shaped pieces of the stem. Then I saw the word roundel (with a u) means a round coat of arms which is what I thought the first spelling meant.

Speaking of meanings, do you use Wikipedia? I use it a lot for all kinds of research. I love learning and knowledge. Wikipedia operates free as a non commercial and non profit and are requesting donations to stay afloat. I really feel this is a worthy cause, the cause of knowledge for everyone. I wonder how much a set of encyclopedias would cost? The thing about the Internet is that a site like Wikipedia is always up to date unlike a book. I am not connected in any way to Wikipedia other than the fact that I use it all the time. Click on the link which will take you to the explanation by the founder and a way to donate if you wish.


Since we're in our RV we are occasionally using paper plates so the turkey Marsala isn't as pretty as it would be on a beautiful ceramic plate. Turkey Marsala is very easy to make, anyone can do it and it's the Marsala wine that gives the slightly sweet and distinctive flavor. Take thin turkey cutlets and dredge well in flour and set aside. Put some olive oil and a little butter in a large non stick frying pan and heat till warm. Add in about 1/2 pound of thickly sliced mushrooms and saute till lightly soft but not falling apart. Scoop out the mushroom and set aside in a bowl. Add the turkey cutlets and saute on each side till brown. Leave cutlets in frying pan and sprinkle the cooked mushrooms over the top. Turn up the heat for a minute when it's all sizzling, pour in half a cup of Marsala wine and let it sizzle to cook off the alcohol, then turn down the heat to low, cover, and cook till a fork inserted into the turkey goes in easily. Serve with some brown rice and vegetable of your choice.


Look at the upper right corner of this photo to see who is keeping me company while I make my ceramic pieces in my RV. That's Butter one of my cats. I'm sitting at the dinette booth and have a plastic bin for my cats to sit on the bench so they can lie there and see out the window easily. I usually have a bowl of water I rinse my sea sponge in and then throw the water outside so I don't clog the RV pipes with clay. The cats keep trying to drink the clay water. There must be a mineral in the clay they like.

Have a good weekend and I'll see you next week with a few more pieces I've made to use up the black cassius basaltic clay. Comments, suggestions, even critiques are welcome.