I’d like to introduce you to a new food blogging friend, the beautiful Nusrat Azim from Eye of the Beholder. We’ve been commenting back and forth for a while and recently she added a post to her blog about shrimp and spinach. Now normally those two wouldn’t get my curiosity juices flowing but she’d commented on my blog so I returned the favor. I’m so glad I did.
Nusrat is a storyteller and photographer and a wonderful cook to boot. In this post she tells us about how she made the 18-hour trek to Melbourne, Australia to go to university. Lots of people go to university in another country – my stepson went to England – but Nusrat – at 17 and against her mother’s wishes, was going to Australia to homestay with a man she thought was a “smelly 60-year-old sailor dude.” Doesn’t that leave an image in your mind?
This woman has guts. A double serving.
Turns out the sailor dude didn’t smell of anything but the ocean, was kind to her and he taught her many life lessons. You should read her Symphony of Shrimp and Spinach post – I think you’ll like it as much as I did.
She’s married now and lives in Dallas, Texas where she works as an assistant creative director at a magazine. I asked Nusrat if she’d like to do a guest post on Orgasmic Chef because I think every one of her recipes and photos are orgasmic. Here’s her post.
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Thanks, Maureen, I’m rather new to food blogging and I look forward to making many new friends.
There is so much sweetness, happiness, beauty and bliss in an inch-long, tiny, cute, juicy fruit! Pop one in your mouth, let it explode in your throat and you’ll feel an unbelievable amount of glee traveling down to your tummy!
My yearning for strawberries is scandalous. Eating Strawberries releases mood-boosting, stress-reducing something from my heart and soul that is shivering…stimulating…relaxing…intoxicating. Pure pleasure. Orgasmic? Oh YES !
For example:
Forget subtlety and manners ! It’s so worth licking in public!
Popsicles made out of fresh strawberry chunks taste so earth-shatteringly good that the memory of that taste lasts for a lifetime! The pleasant chilliness instantly warms up your heart and has this amazing power to bring your shattered, tired self back to life. And the somewhat tart aftertaste will leave your tongue comfortably numb.
Feeling as dry as the Sahara? – Well, that calls for a Strawberry-pops date-night.
* Thinly slice strawberries along with Kiwis. Add whole blueberries, if that makes you extra happy.
* Place chunks gently into pops molds.
* Now pour sugar/honey infused water. Add a drop of rose-water, for a little exotic kick.
* Freeze it for about an hour. When the water is almost frozen, stick the pops-sticks in the molds.
* Freeze over night, serve and smile.
There’s something in my blood that draws me madly to Strawberry drink. The sight of this gorgeous, glittering, fragrant, vibrant, vivacious drink leaves me speechless. Light, crisp, soothing liquid renders me helpless. A sweet surrender indeed. Strawberry is a love drug. Totally.
*Blend a handful of fresh strawberries, water, sugar/honey and 1 lemon juice.
*Drain. Add more water, sugar, lemon juice if needed. Serve.
A breakfast doesn’t get any healthier, prettier. Gorgeous Strawberries and scattered baby Spinach. You can make it fancier by tossing some toasted almonds and your choice sauce/dressing/vinaigrette.
It’s always a good idea to let Strawberries be your fruit consumption. These sexy little thangs are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Folate and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C and Manganese. There’s a bummer though; a single serving contains 12 grams of carbohydrates. This amount will likely not make your blood sugar levels spike! A little sugar straight from Mother Nature wouldn’t harm your body, mind and soul, would it?
-Nusrat Azim
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Thanks, Nusrat, for a lovely guest post. In Queensland where I live it’s officially strawberry season and all the pick-your-own farms are waiting for me to bend over and pick til my heart’s content so my belly will be full of these wonderful berries. Folks, visit Eye of the Beholder and get to know Nusrat. She’s delightful. Hopefully she’ll get a Facebook fan page, Twitter account, Pinterest account and Google+ account soon so we can follow her all over.
G’day! How lovely Maureen and a great guest blog post too Nusrat!
I always enjoy reading and learning more about food bloggers and they stories behind the foods and how they came to where they are now in their lives too! Welcome! New liker and look forward to reading your future blog posts too!
It is freezeing here, but could go for one of these popcicles now!
Cheers! Joanne
Isn’t Nusrat terrific?
You sound like me, Joanne ! I eat/make pops all year long and in freezing weather, pops encounter gets intense 🙂
Thanks you for your lovely comment.
They look delicious! I’ll save these for summer when I’ll appreciate the cooling properties that much more! 😀
Me too but it’s definitely strawberry season up here 🙂
Great to know that you find them ‘delicious’ 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Lorraine.
I love strawberries – and these ideas all look divine. I’m heading over to check out her blog now 🙂
And, Rachel, my dear, you have one more follower/stalker 🙂 Many thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
I love Nusrat’s stuff! Good photography and superb writing – she’s terrific. Wonderful ode to strawberries. Orgasmic, too. Really excellent stuff – thanks.
John, are you planning to kill me with your kindness?!
(Always love your soft, nice, soothing words along my way)
Love.
You’re gonna kill me with your kindness someday, John ! (That being said, I adore your killer drinks and beverages) 🙂
Thanks for those inspiring words.
Both lovely people and with great blogs. Nusrat such a sweet introduction of Maureen, as Joanne said, it’s nice to get to know fellow bloggers a bit more on a personal level.
Now to the awesome popsicles, my boys would love to get their hands on them. Beautiful..
Thanks very much, your sweetness 🙂 Send my pops-hugs to your boys ):
Wonderfully refresh and beautiful looking icy treat, Nusrat. Thank you for sharing it on Maureen’s blog.
Thank you for the like 🙂 Loved to have you come by.
Al recipes as lovley as the cook!
Now if ony the weather would cooperate (may not even make it to 70 F today. *sigh* I will fix one of those strawberry pops. YUM!
I have an idea, Roberta: make those pops specially in a freezing night, get cozy underneath a blanket, tune into your favorite TV channel and indulge yourself with the pops 🙂 How about that? 🙂
I read that post and wondered how I would feel about my daughter moving to another part of the world to share a home with an old man! It doesn’t sound good, does it! Love the look of the strawberry popsicles. I must buy some popsicle moulds xx
Thank God your daughter is not a rebel ! I have always been such a pain-in-the-neck of my Mom 🙂
Maureen…Your Highness….Your Sweetness 🙂
I can’t thank you enough for introducing me to your foodie-buddies here and the way you showered me with your precious love. I’m grateful, touched and humbled.
And I’m so blessed to have a nice-kind-appreciative friend like yourself.
May all your prayers be heard by the Almighty.
…..
Hugs. Peace. Sunshine. Cupcakes
I love strawberries too and eat them the most along with blueberries and bananas as far as fruit goes. Thanks for introducing us to Nusrat and her blog. I hope your doing well and while we enjoy the hot months of Summer you are staying warm down under 🙂
Love you strawberry-colored lips, Suzanne 🙂 Many thanks for visiting and dropping some cool words 🙂
What a fun guest post – and definitely red, hot, sexy strawberries!
I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Thank you!
What a fun guest post – and yes, definitely red, hot, sexy strawberries!
Lovely strawberry ideas indeed, and perfect for the first new ones of the season!
Thank you, dear chef 🙂 You can’t go wrong with Strawberries, can you 🙂
One of those popsicles would be amazing right now. They look so beautiful, perfect bright chunks of fruit, delicious. GG
How may I thank you for such warm, bright, kind words?
Hugs and tons of love 🙂
Thanks Maureen. I do love her stories. The srawnberries look so beautiful in these pictures
Thanks for liking, Tania 🙂
Hugs.
Thank you Maureen for the introduction. 🙂 Lovely to meet Nusrat…your strawberry dishes are amazing. Your photographs stunning…. fantastic guest post.
Me soooooooooooo happy seeing your comment ! How sweetly you lifted my confidence up! Thanks a million, Romana 🙂
Yep, strawberries are orgasmic alright! Thanks for sharing Nusrat’s blog Maureen, it certainly looks delightful and I’ve added it to my reader.
Hey beautiful 🙂 Many thanks for visiting my blog. I’m already in love with your blog too 🙂
Take care.
Nusrat is a delight, for sure. I too have enjoyed getting to know her through our comments — glad to see the spotlight on her so other can be blessed to meet her. 🙂
I’m a BIG fan of yours, Judy 🙂 I adore your soul foods and eye-soothing food photos.
Love.
These are such pretty popsicles! Perfect for a summer cookout.
Thanks a bunch, Rayna for liking my pops!
Love 🙂
Nus my ys ys sistaaaa…. u know i love u …but wait do i love more ur write-ups or ur recipes or the photos..aaaaahhhh forget it all right its all so synonymous…love love love darl 😀
Love you more, Tabenda, my soul-sister 🙂
Always love Nusrat’s photography and adore her story telling. Great introduction Maureen. Will be back to explore your blog later 😀
Tunna darl, lots and lots of thanks for visiting 🙂 I adore your exotic recipes too 🙂
Hello Maureen, Thanks for having a guest post with Nusrat. Good to see you Nusrat! I really enjoy your recipes and her epic photos are just wonderful. simple food but very beautiful results. Take care, BAM
Imagine, if she’s just getting started with her blog now, where will she be in another year? She’s very talented.
Thanks for that gracious compliment, mah darling Bam 🙂 How I adore your posts and photos! Please stick around.
Strawberries will have to be added to my grocery list! Nusrat’s post gave me a huge craving! Such gorgeous photos, too!!! Off to say hello…thanks for the introduction, Maureen!
I went out and bought several boxes of strawberries. I want to make these popsicles and I found a recipe for strawberry gazpacho today.
Happy to know that you liked my pops-pics 🙂 Thanks a ton for coming by, Liz. Love.
Beautiful post!
Thanks, Chelsea, and lovely to meet you. Thanks heaps for visiting.
Thanks very much, Chelsea 🙂
Hi Maureen, Hi Nusrat, beautiful post… I cannot stop looking at those strawberry popsicles. Thanks for the introduction. Good to meet : )
Thanks, Lizzy. Do you remember what you were like at 17? I can’t imagine myself being mature enough to do what she did.
Dear Lizzy, thanks for making my day 🙂
Hugs 🙂
Oh what gorgeous images!! The strawberries and kiwi fruit look amazing in the icy pole!
Delicious, such a lovely story, thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I thought everyone would want to get to know her.
Thank you for stopping by ! I’ve never thought of having so many great compliments over some ‘easy-to-make’ popsicles 🙂
What an amazing and brave woman! And the popsicles are absolutely gorgeous. 🙂
I know! I’m really glad I met her.
Thanks a ton! Me soooooooooooooo happy to have your compliment, Krista 🙂
Nusrat is quite a character. I have just spent way too much time reading her latest posts – she is such a delight. And these popsicles are gorgeous.
She certainly has a lot of gusto!
OMG! How honored I am to know that you have read my posts! Thanks a million, Suzzane !
Hugs.
Hi Nusrat, it’s nice to meet you. =) Glad to have been introduced to such a talented blogger via Maureen. Your life story sounds interesting as well, your move surely took come guts and I like that. =)
Thank you sweetheart 🙂 Great to meet you too. Please stay in touch.
Thanks for helping me plan my weekend dessert!
What a great and beautiful idea to freeze fruits!
Thanks a bunch 🙂
Love all the strawberry recipes, photos and ideas. Thanks for introducing Nusrat, Maureen, hopping over to check out her posts.
Great find, and thank you for sharing with us! 🙂 I now plan to get strawberries.
Thanks for visiting, dearie 🙂
What gorgeous photos. Popsicles never looked prettier.
Thank you ! What gorgeous compliment ! 🙂
ur all activities are as sweet as ur name and look. wish to stay connected wth u…………
Oh yay, Nusrat! I recently got to know her and her blog, and thank you for featuring her so that I could learn more about her. Her pictures are beautiful!
Maureen, it’s so fun to “meet” new folks recommended by blogging friends. I can see why Nusrat’s blog got your attention. Gifted writer & photographer, not to mention just plain nice. Thanks for the introduction! Enjoyed your opening paragraphs, too!
Maureen, thanks so much for introducing Nusrat! From Melbourne to Texas – I bet that was a culture shock. 🙂 Nusrat, what a lovely treat! You obviously are a perfectionist by the way you placed the fruit and then added that little drop of Rosewater to finish it off. Brilliant! Love everything you’ve shared with us and your pictures are gorgeous! Very nice to meet you!
wonderful post Maureen.. Nusrat’s story is great.. she is such a beautiful light spirit! Obviously great writer and a passionate cook as well (saved her blog to my favorites)strawberry season is over here, but once I see some of this delicious fruit in the market, I’ll give a them a try… oh.. did I mentioned her sumptuous shrimp recipes? yumm 🙂
Lovely writing – and beautiful pops!!
They were beautiful photographs!