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Margaux

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Margaux Arts

In the last few years, I have suffered with depression and anxiety. As part of my healing, I started my own ‘Art Therapy’, sketching my innermost thoughts, there were a lot of dark drawings and sketches from 2019, mainly with colour pencils and water colours. In 2020, I decided to pick up my brushes (28 years later) and paint what I feel, what I see, my thoughts and my perception…

Art

Isolation

I am all alone I could only talk to the walls Everything is unknown There is a little light where my shadow falls I tried talking to my own shadow “When will all this end?” He didn’t seem to know My scared little pretend friend  It’s been a very long time Since I saw the sun shine Or hear the church bells chime Dreams and reality intertwine I no longer…

Art

London Hue Part II

Featuring St. Paul’s Catherdral, view from the Millennium Bridge with an abstract geometric graphic style. The pandemic may have put us all in a lockdown but London will stay strong with its historical architecture and beauty!…

Art

London Hue Part I

Graphic painting of Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge in colours to bring a different perspective to London landscape during the pandemic. London is my home, London is my city, Despite Lockdown number three, I will never forsake thee. I can only use my brushes, And bring you back to your vigour and beauty, The London I know full of colours and history, I pray this will soon be…

Art

Joy

She’s seeing colours, feeling excited, dancing happily in the light. She’s JOY!…

Art

Sunset at Durdle Door

Inspired by trip to Durdle Door, Dorset two summers ago. Sunset is peaceful, serene and it’s simply paradise. I hope you feel the serenity I felt.…

Art

London City Sunset

A view of the Tower Bridge with Walkie Talkie, Cheese Grater and The Gherkin in the background at sunset.…

Art

Healing Heart

A pair of hands holding onto a heart to help it regrow and to love again. https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/margauxarts https://www.saatchiart.com/margauxpowell…

Art

Lagrima

A combination of abstract and real life, layering and mixing colours and techniques to show the difference and contrast in relationships and the idealism of marriage. The bubble we live in or the bubble we put ourselves into to trust the sanctity of marriage. Yet, sometimes the bubbles can shatter to a thousand pieces by deceit and betrayal. Tears rolling down in the background of the abstract piece as she…

Art

Melancholia

She sees colours outside but she cannot feel them within. She sees joy in the world yet she cannot have joy in her heart. Tears rolling down her eyes as she hopes one day, she can see and feel all the colours in the world and be safe in her bubble of happiness. https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/margauxarts https://www.saatchiart.com/margauxpowell…

Art

Harmony

Nine Koi Carps in a pond of water lilies living in harmony. As per Feng Shui, 9 Koi Carps bring abundance, prosperity and harmony. https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/margauxarts https://www.saatchiart.com/margauxpowell…

Food

Jjampong

Jjampong 짬뽕. This is the much loved Korean spicy seafood noodle soup. As I continue to indulge in Korean drama on Netflix, my love for Korean food (as I watched the characters eat all the yummy delicious food) grows. Jjampong was the favourite of the characters in, “It’s okay not to be okay”. If you haven’t seen this, I would strongly recommend it. As much as I love meat, seafood…

Food

Steak Noodle Soup

This is a Korean inspired Steak Noodle Soup. It’s very simple to make and it’s really tasty. Perfect on a rainy day. I prefer to use sirloin for this but you can use ribeye if you prefer. Of course, beautifully marbled wagyu sirloin steaks are best. As for the noodle, I have used thin udon noodles. It can be substituted with rice noodles or any other noodles. This soup is…

Food

Butternut Squash Risotto

This is a very heartwarming family dish in my opinion. It’s one those family favourites that bring everyone together. Best made in Autumn when butternut squash are in abundance. Of course, this is not just a simple Butternut Squash Risotto, it oozes warmth, a proper comfort food. It’s one you would make on a rainy day or on a day when you need a warmth and love. It contains 100%…

Food

Prawn Linguine

There are many different ways to cook pasta and seafood. You can always opt for a tomatoey sauce, white sauce or olive oil with pasta or for pasta itself, the most basic cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper). This recipe is made with a modified white sauce. Basically, I had leftover sour cream before we went away, and I am one those who hates wasting food. There were minimal ingredients…

Art

Flight of Life

Is it written in the stars? Fate and destiny That’s just the way things are? Life is filled with complexity But butterflies aren’t always the way they are Change isn’t always the enemy From an egg to a larva Then a pupa to the butterfly Things aren’t always the way they are! Be free, be happy Be who you are Love relentlessly Be joyful carelessly Love life, live life Be…

Food

Ultimate Burger

If you are as carnivorous as we are, proper beef burgers are a must at least once a week! In London, we found that the best place for a good burger, reasonably priced, family friendly and very civilised, and of course served with a good glass of red wine is Bar Boulud at Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Of course, this is all pre-Covid. During the lockdown period, we have all had…

Food

Spicy Pork Bulgogi

Also known as Jeyuk Bokkeum or Dweji Bulgogi, this is another one of Korean’s famous dishes. As you know, I am really into Korean drama, Korean food and the Korean language at the moment. Bulgogi is the second most famous food in Korea, so it has to be done..here’s my take on Korean Spicy Pork Bulgogi. It is really easy to make and can all be done in under 15…

Food

Kimchi Fried Rice

Kimchi (김치) is much loved in Korea and is served with almost everything. Not only is it tasty but it is also good for your gut! Kimchi Fried Rice is a very simple 15 minutes dish to wok up when you are in a rush but gives you a good balanced nutritious meal. Even my boys love them. My version may not be very authentic (more of a western and…

Food

Kimchi

Kimchi (김치) is the staple of Korea. A fermented dish made mainly with Chinese Cabbage aka Napa Cabbage, this dish has many variations but very easy to make at home and packs a punch for your gut health. Kimchi can be dated back to the era of the Three Kingdoms (37 BC‒7 AD). Fermented food was necessary when there were no other method to store food. The tradition though of…

Food

Red Braised Pork (红烧肉)

红烧肉 (Hong Shao Rou) is a very famous Chinese dish. It is usually cooked for special occasions and always a crowd pleaser. Using belly pork, this dish has slight variations throughout Asia. Here’s my version of the infamous Red Braised Pork and it is definitely one that my family enjoys! Ingredients (serves 4) Pork Belly 800g 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp light soy sauce 3 tbsp dark soy sauce…

Food

Chimichurri

I am a meat lover and most meal, I must have meat. Hence, finding a good accompaniment for good meat is essential. Chimichurri, a speciality sauce from Argentina and Uruguay is both a sauce and a condiment. You can use it to accompany any grilled meat! It’s brings out the flavour in any meat. A lot of recipes use a food processor but the authentic version is always made from…

Food

Chinese Herbal Paper Wrapped Chicken 纸包鸡 (Zi Bao Ji)

Paper Wrapped Chicken is a dish much loved by the Chinese. This method of cooking is a sure way to ensure the meat is moist and beautifully tender. There are many different styles and ingredients. Today, I have chosen to use Chinese Herbs or Chinese Tonics, these are often used to nourish the body. The most well known ingredient is probably Dang Gui 當歸 (Angelica Root). I love the smell…

Art

O Venezia Mia

A gondolier singing his Barcarolle down the little canal in Venice as he’s enjoying the blossoms of spring. A moment in his own dream before the dawn of the tourists.…

Food

Kon Loh Mee 干捞面 Saucy Noodles with Char Siu Pork and Wanton Dumplings

This is yet another childhood favourite. You can have wanton noodles soupy or dry and this is the dry version. With this noodle dish, the important part is getting the sauce right. Char Siu Pork is easy to make. Check out my Char Siu Pork recipe if you haven’t already. Wanton Dumplings require a little practice but all doable to create a wondrous food adventure or a food memory. You…

Food

Orecchiette with Ragu and Melting Mozzarella

I love pasta, who doesn’t? Orecchiette or ‘little ears’ pasta are perfect for scooping up the sauce. A simple pasta dish can really stand out with a good sauce, cooked to perfection (al dente of course) and of course cheese. Adding Mozzarella with this pasta dish simply brings the dish alive. Try it at home if you don’t believe me! Ingredients (serves 4) 500g Orecchiette Pasta 2 cans of plum…

Food

Silky Egg Rice Noodle (Wat Tan Hor) 滑蛋河

This is one of those dishes that really reminds me of home and a good hawker stall. Fond memories of warmth and family as we share a fresh Wat Tan Hor, the smell of that delicious noodle and burning wok, and the clanging of the wok as the chef cooks, ah bliss. I can almost feel the humidity of the nights in Asia. Wat Tan Hor 滑蛋河 is made from…

Food

Wanton Noodle Soup

Wanton Mee or Wanton Noodles are very popular in South East Asia and I would say it is one of the most popular noodles. You can either make Wanton Noodles dry or in a soup. I like both – simply cannot decide. The wanton dumplings are very easy to make and you can either fry them or cook them with the broth. I sometimes add Char Siu pork to my…

Food

Braised Pork Knuckle Rice Noodles 豬腳麵線

In Taiwan, this is a very popular dish. Taiwanese would usually eat Pork Knuckle Noodles for Lunar New Year and birthdays, but as well as when you have misfortune and need to get some good fortune back. Pork Knuckle Noodles is the symbol of ironing out bad luck and bringing good fortune. This dish also has many healthy benefits such as the abundance of collagen in those trotters! In Asia,…

Life

The Rise of the Lockdown Pups

Whilst we were in the lockdown, we had time on our hands. A lot of time in fact. We saw many spending more time cooking and baking (The cinnamon rolls challenge was one, and in fact, we ran out of flour in supermarkets!). There was even the news of a lady who hatched ducklings from her supermarket duck eggs. We also saw many people buying a pet for the lockdown,…

Food

Spaghetti Carbonara

This in my opinion is the most authentic carbonara recipe using egg yolks and pecorino cheese not cream or milk. It’s simple to make and you only need either pancetta, speck or guanciale. In this recipe, I am using speck. You can get them from most Italian food stores. Guanciale is pork jowl, the cheek that has been short-cured with salt, sugar and a mixture of spices. It is often…

Life

Summer and Social Distancing

Summer has officially started today. It is quite a weird summer this year with the Coronavirus pandemic. We have no summer holiday plans with all the travel restrictions whilst air bridges negotiations are still underway with several other European countries. The pandemic has certainly changed many things, not just the economy but certainly our way of life. There are a lot of uncertainties so the best thing to do is…

Uncategorised Sticky

EDIT YOUR LIFE

By Margaux Welcome to my blog. Join me in my journey of rediscovering my passions, my life, the meaning of my life, my needs, my wants and me of course. Yes, it’s all about me (and you). Rediscovering yourself is essential. As I entered my forties, there are numerous challenges and changes, enough to muddle me a little. Midlife crisis indeed. It is normal to have pressure, strain and stress,…

Food

Claypot Rice 砂锅饭 (Sha Po Fan) or 煲仔飯 (Bow Zai Fan)

Another of my childhood favourite. This however, is a version in a London home kitchen without the claypot! The principle is the same and the taste is almost as authentic, very close I must say. This is a very popular Chinese rice casserole dish in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Southern China mainly. It’s a one pot wonder as long as you prepare everything in advance. There are a few…

Life

Meaning of Life

Have you ever wondered what is your purpose in life? What is the meaning of life or even more precisely the meaning of your life? I have recently read a few books on the meaning of life and it made me think about life; purpose, value, meaning and finding my Ikigai (reason to jump out of bed every morning!). Does life have meaning? Life’s meaning often refers to the value…

Food

Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage (腊肠炒饭)

Chinese Sausage or Lap Cheong (腊肠) are cured smoked and sweet sausages made with pork seasoned with soy sauce, rose water and rice wine originally from China. You can get them from Chinatown quite easily and one of my favourite brands is Wing Wah from Hong Kong. This is one of the under 15 minutes meal I love to cook and my boys love. They can never get enough of…

Food Sticky

Good Food

With Margaux in her London Home Kitchen Food is sustenance to the body, turning it into fuel for living but food is so much more than that. Food is an experience, food is family, food is sharing, food is love, food is kindness, food is taste, food is excitement, food is enjoyment, food is happiness, food is joy. Food is what I live for. I live to eat. I am…

Life

Lake Serpentine on a Sunday

Long walks on a Sunday with my family is a must. I am always fascinated by the abundance of natural beauty in London. Here are some from our walk last Sunday. See the natural beauty in everyday life. Enjoy nature everyday!…

Food

Simple Spaghetti with Smoked Salmon and Caviar

Facciamo due spaghetti? Spaghetti is one of the staple of our diet. It is very versatile, and can go with almost anything, even in the most simple form; cacio e pepe. Well, this is an upgrade of a simple spaghetti. It takes about 15 minutes but it does bring out the lux in ‘du spaghi’. Ingredients (serves 4) 300g smoked salmon 25g lumpfish caviar (of course you can use Beluga…

Food

Teriyaki Salmon

This is another of my children’s favourite. Served with fresh jasmine rice, the sticky Teriyaki sauce will get them asking for more. It’s a real healthy treat and meal for them. The crucial part is getting the Teriyaki sauce right and marinating the salmon (or any meat your prefer) before cooking. Ingredients (serves 4) 4 fillet of salmon (organic preferably) 100ml Japanese soy sauce (if you can’t find it use…

Food

Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is a special recipe passed down from my father. My cousin sister uses the exact recipe passed down by her mother. So, it’s fair to say this is our family’s recipe passed down from my grandmother. I have changed it a little only because I like to make sure the chicken is fully cooked, though still moist and tender. Ingredients (serves 6) 1 large whole chicken (Organic ideally) A…

Food

Spaghetti Marmite

You either love it or you hate it. We all love Marmite in the family, thankfully. So, it is only natural that we mix spaghetti with Marmite. Trust me, it has that umami taste and it is heavenly! Ingredients (serves 4) 500g spaghetti 3 tbsp marmite 100g smoked pancetta (cubes) 1 clove of garlic (finely chopped) A bunch of basil leaves Olive oil 150g Chestnut mushrooms (finely chopped into cubes)…

Art Sticky

Nine Koi Carps bringing wealth and abundance 年年有余…

Life

Flowers in Bloom

Flowers are always beautiful, even if we know it doesn’t last long as they only bloom for a short period. Life is much the same. Learn to love and appreciate everything around you and accept that it may come to an end one day. Treasure and value each moment as it comes. Enjoy the beauty of everyday life. These were taken on my iPhone 11 Pro Max on my walk…

Food

Braised Duck Noodle

This is a great way of using up any leftovers from your roast duck. Check out my Cantonese Roast Duck recipe if you haven’t already. The only leftovers in our house are usually the duck wings and bones. The duck bones I usually make them into a stock for other usage, or use them as a base to cook Chinese rice porridge (congee). Now, duck wings are always great for…

Food

Seafood Paella with Chorizo

Now, in my opinion, there are two camps in the world of paella. One is the standard, traditional Spanish paella (without Chorizo) and the other is popularised by Jamie Oliver (using Chorizo of course, ahem, the British style). I like both, though I must say that the addition of Chorizo does make it more tasty. This comment will probably make me very unpopular amongst the Spaniards! Lo siento! Ingredients (serves…

Art

Layers of Life

Layers of Complexity, Contrast and Contradiction. Rosy on the outside to some but deep down everyone have their own complications…

Art

Super Woman

Whenever you think you aren’t enough, look deep into your soul, you know you are enough. Find your inner super woman and be the best version of yourself always!…

Art

Il Cuore

Infarction not ischaemic, just yet. Fix my broken heart..…

Art

Aries

She’s tough, she’s a natural born leader, she’s a perfectionist, she takes no BS, she tells it as it is, yet she is loving, she’s gentle (indeed there’s a gentle and elegant side to her), she’s very affectionate, she will give all of her heart but, never ever cross her for her wrath will know no bounds! She displays courage, determination, perseverance, strength and resilience. She represents the modern day…

Art

Le Onde

The waves of a tempestuous sea, raging yet the perfect setting for an adventurous surfer…

Art

Too Late

She was always there but he never appreciated her. Over time, like a flower, she withered. Without love, the pain was overbearing. He finally glanced over and she is no longer there. Anguished but it is too late, she is already broken, beyond repair..…

Art

Piovende

Raining tears as she walks alone reminiscing the past and missing her beloved father.…

Food

Chawanmushi

Japanese savoury steamed eggs with kombu dashi in a cup. It is soft, silky, almost like a tofu except more silky! I simply love them as a starter to any Japanese meal. In fact, in my opinion, they are a better Japanese starter than Miso Soup. Ingredients (serves 6) 6 eggs 750ml kombu dashi 1tbsp Japanese soy sauce 200g cooked and peeled Prawns or small cooked Scallops 200g Shiitake mushrooms…

Food

Char Siu – Chinese Roast Pork

This is definitely a popular dish in the house. My youngest particularly can just have helpings after helpings of rice and char siu pork, that will keep him happy and full! For Char Siu, I usually use pork fillet but sometimes, I would use boneless pork chops as I find it is more flavoursome with that bit of fat! I don’t always use the red colouring, therefore my Char Siu…

Food

Cantonese Roast Duck

This is one of our family’s favourites. My boys love my Cantonese roast duck. I usually prepare it the night before so the duck is marinated for at least 24 hours. There are many recipes out there, but I find that this is one of the easy ones and it’s of course tried, tested, tweaked and tasted. Ingredients (serves 6) 1 duck 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1…

Mama

Mama

Chapter 5: Drunken stupor Jonny It was 1972 and Anna’s name had become synonymous with that of Club Damansara. She was doing very well. Anna’s shows were all fully booked and she had admirers from all ages and all backgrounds. Of course, her heart only had space for Jonny. The two were madly in love. Jonny was working on promoting Anna. They planned for a tour to Ipoh, Seremban, Johor…

The End

The End

Winner of The Academy of Writers Competition Chapter 1: Positano, The End It was a beautiful mid September afternoon in Positano. All was quiet and calm after the mad rush of August with the locals and the tourists from all over the world. Positano is definitely one of the most idyllic coastal towns of the Amalfi Coast, perhaps even the whole of Italy. For Margaux, the beauty of this cliffside…

Life

London in Lockdown

At the beginning of the lockdown, London was almost unrecognisable. It was an opportunity to re-explore the city and really look in depth at the feature we can sometimes miss when we are too busy going about life. Time to explore the lockdown city.…

Mama

Mama

Chapter 4: Teenage Years The runaway Alas, good things never last. Anna was 14 when she decided to run away from home. It all started the year before when Anna won the talent show at school with her singing. She became more confident with her talent and started singing in a club in the evenings, without Auntie Mui knowing. She would say she needed to work with a classmate on…

Art

Facets of Women

My latest piece is a slightly abstract expressive art, depicting the many facets of womanhood from youth to old age. The many facets of women through joy, love, sorrow and pain.…

Mama

Mama

Chapter 3: Kuala Lumpur Goodbye Singapore – the darkest night Anna boarded the bus to Kuala Lumpur as her mother demanded. Tears welled up in her eyes as the engine roared. She sat next to the lady, whom Mei had not bothered to ask for her name.  “It will be a long journey, about 7-8 hours at least. Get some sleep,” said the lady also known as Wah. As they…

Mama

Mama

Chapter 2: Pearl of the Orient Singapore circa 1960 The loud steam whistle abruptly woke Anna up from her sleep. Everyone was getting their suitcases as the train pulled into Tanjung Pagar train station in Singapore. Mei held on to Anna’s hand tightly as they made their way into the station. It was a very hot and humid afternoon. Mei had a piece of paper handwritten with her friend’s address…

Art

Break Free

Though she seems perfect and composed, deep down she’s broken.She’s solving the puzzle deep within trying to fix herself and break free from her broken soul.She’s the epitome of perfect IMPERFECTION!…

Mama

Mama

Chapter 1: Adoption Mother’s Love Being a mother is a privilege, a great honour but it doesn’t come with any handbook or guidance. We mostly learn on the job, do our best and impart all we can to ensure the little ones will lead a better life and have a better future. There are women who yearn to have children but cannot, there are women who are unable to carry…

Life

7 Steps to Edit Your Life

Recognise the need for change Reassess your life and your choices Remove the negativity Surround yourself with positivity Self love and kindness Live in the now Review and reflect Your life is like your wardrobe. Sometimes, it can get messy. Decluttering is good. Every so often, you need to edit your life as you would with your wardrobe. There may be clothes that no longer fit you or have faded…

Life

Uncertainty

The political scene in the UK over the past few months is enough uncertainty for the country. Uncertainty is a precarious state. It is almost like having the sword of Damocles hanging over your head, not knowing when it will fall. Dionysius (his king) suspended the sword over Damocles’s head by a single hair to show him the perilous nature of happiness. Uncertainty hits us all at different points because life itself is…

Life

Detox

We are 12 days into 2019. Many of us have over indulged over the festive period and we are all in the detox mode. Whether it’s a dry January or no carb January or just a simple diet change, detox is often helpful and important towards a healthy lifestyle. Digital detoxing from social media and your devices is equally important. I love the new feature of a weekly screen time…

Life

Let It Go

I was driving in the car with my son today. We turned into a two-way street. This taxi driver drove onto my side of the road and refused to move. He gave me an insouciant look. He didn’t barge. If it were my husband driving, the driver probably would not have done that. It is pretty much still a man’s world out there sometimes. In the end, I reversed and…

Life

Editing My Life

In a world where you can be anyone, who would you be? Who do you want to be? When I was little, I told my mum I wanted to be an astronaut. Her reply is for another day but a child’s imagination is priceless and endless. Nothing is impossible. However, something happens along the way of life as we grow up and turns most of us into cynics and changes…