Three Unconventional Dishes That Taste Ten Times Sweeter With Jam
It's day 392 of quarantine and by now, I'm sure that all of your go-to recipes have been gone to one too many times but the increased amount of free time we've been spending at home makes now the perfect time to step out of your culinary comfort zone and Wolfgang Puck it up in the comfort of your own kitchen. Luckily, xoNecole has the details on three unconventional recipes that will help you do exactly that and level up your cooking skills in the process.
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Using products from Black-owned, vegan jam company, Trade Jam St. Co, I tested three unique recipes that you'll want to add to your weekly menu expeditiously. The company, which was founded by Brooklyn-based mom-to-be, Ashley Marie Rouse, offers low-sugar jams that are versatile AF and guarantee to make your breakfast, lunch, and dinnertime routine so much sweeter.
From Chipotle Bourbon Glazed Brisket and Maple Glazed Pork Chops to Smoked Peach Cobbler and fruit-infused cocktails, there's nothing this jam can't do and I had the opportunity to test three of these recipes out personally.
@prettyhonore for xoNecole
For breakfast, I used the company's Blueberry Lemon Basil and Smoked Yellow Peach jams to make fruit-at-the-bottom yogurt cups that would give Yoplait a run for its money. For lunch, I cooked sweet and savory meatballs using their Cranberry Raspberry Sage Jam. And for dinner, Trade St Jam Co.'s Blackberry Mulled Merlot Jam was the star of a plate of restaurant-worthy steak tacos.
While I've always been more of a jelly person, myself, this Black-owned business has transformed me into a lifetime lover of jams and one bite of these dishes will have you hooked, too. Scroll below for the recipes!
Breakfast: Fruit-On-The-Bottom Yogurt Cups
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam & Smoked Yellow Peach Jam
- 2 cups Greek Gods Honey and Strawberry Greek Yogurt
- Fruit, diced
- Granola, coconut chips, hibiscus flowers, chia seeds, walnuts
Instructions
- Divide jam evenly at the bottom of a mason jar or cup.
- Cut and add fruit.
- Spoon in yogurt to fill jar and garnish with your favorite toppings.
Lunch: Cranberry Sage Meatballs
@prettyhonore for xoNecole
Ingredients
- 1 pack Aidells Caramelized Onion Meatballs
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 c. shallots, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 jar Cranberry Raspberry Sage Jam
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. water
- 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp. fresh sage
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in a sauté pan. Add shallots and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes.
- Add jam, sugar, water, mustard, and 1 tbsp. sage and simmer 4-5 minutes over med-low heat.
- Add meatballs and continue to cook over low heat for an additional 10 minutes. If sauce gets too thick, add a touch of water.
- Remove from heat and garnish with remaining sage.
- Serve over rice or pasta.
Dinner: Skirt Steak Tacos Wit Blackberry Pear Slaw
@prettyhonore for xoNecole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. skirt steak
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Sea salt, to garnish
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 jar Blackberry Mulled Merlot Jam
- Blue cheese, crumbled, to garnish
- 8 corn tortillas
Dressing
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives
Slaw
- 1 1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup radicchio, shredded
- 1 pint blackberries, halved
- 1 bartlett pear, cut into matchsticks
- 1/4 ea. red onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season steak with salt and pepper on both sides. Lay steak in hot skillet and sear on each side for 3-4 minutes (for medium-rare). Remove steak from heat. Generously brush the top of steak with jam and let rest.
- While steak is resting, warm tortillas in a dry skillet. Wrap tortillas in foil to keep warm.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside. Mix slaw ingredients together and toss with dressing.
- Thinly slice steak against the grain. Divide slaw evenly among tortillas, top with sliced steak and sprinkle a bit of sea salt directly on meat. Add blue cheese crumbles, garnish with chives and drizzle with remaining jam.
To shop Trade St. Jam Co. and try these recipes out for yourself, click here!
- Jam recipes | BBC Good Food ›
- Jams and Jellies Recipes - Allrecipes.com ›
- How To Make Basic Fruit Jam Without Pectin | Kitchn ›
- Strawberry Jam Recipe - Allrecipes.com ›
- 36 Fruit Jam Recipes That Go Way Beyond Toast | Bon Appétit ›
- Basic Jam Recipe | Martha Stewart ›
- 24 Recipes to Make With Jams and Jellies - Brit + Co ›
- 10 Unexpected Things to Make with Jam : Food Network | Recipes ... ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Black women are not a monolith. We all are deserving of healing and wholeness despite what we've been through, how much money we have in the bank, or what we look like. Most importantly, we are enough—even when we are not working, earning, or serving.
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September is National Self-Care Awareness Month, so for my girlies who have been putting off self-care, here’s your opportunity to start. Self-care means exactly what it says: taking care of self. Why is it important? Well, many of us have busy lives that may include careers, family, and activities that consume us daily. Taking some time for self regularly can help prevent depression, stress, anxiety, and burnout.
In February 2023, Future Forum polled 10,243 people in six countries, including the U.S., and 40% said they are experiencing burnout, and 46% of that number are women. According to CNBC, many factors contributing to burnout include companies demanding employees return to the office, hiring freezes, and layoffs.
Psychologist Debbie Sorensen explained to CNBC why women and millennials are experiencing burnout in higher numbers. “We haven’t had time to recover from the trauma of what we’ve been through the last few years,” she said. “Women and young people, in particular, are putting an immense amount of pressure on themselves to keep going, keep working, no matter the cost.”
As women, particularly Black women, we tend to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Other people's problems become our problems, and then we are expected to show up to work and show up for our family and friends with a smile on our faces. Whew, chile! What if we are having a bad day? How are we supposed to cope if we have to be everything to everyone? Well, here’s your sign to make time for yourself, especially on the days when you are feeling down.
Below is a list of self-care ideas for when you are having a bad day.
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Spend time in nature
Sometimes something as simple as surrounding yourself with trees, grass, and/ or water can improve your mood exponentially. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) research shows that spending time in nature can improve attention, lower stress, and reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders.
Got to a Spa
There’s nothing like going to a spa. You can relax in a sauna, get a massage, and just be. According to research, massages help release serotonin and dopamine, which are often referred to as “feel good” hormones, that will instantly perk you up and have you going about your day with a smile on your face.
Get Artsy
When was the last time you did arts and crafts? Drawing a picture, painting, or even coloring can help you discover your inner child, thus boosting your mood. Purchase an adult coloring book, or go to a paint-and-sip class by yourself, or you can make it a group activity and bring your besties.
Look your best
The old saying, “When you look good, you feel good,” didn’t just come out of thin air. There’s some truth to it. The Kentucky Counseling Center shared a link between self-care and feeling good. “Self-care regimens are extremely important not just to stabilize your day but to make you feel great. Simple things like getting a facial, taking care of your hair done, or exercising can make you confident because when you look good, you also feel good,” according to its website.
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Breathwork
There’s a reason why it is suggested that you breathe when you begin feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Breathing brings oxygen back into your body, and WebMD reports that it can decrease the fight or flight response that happens when you are stressed.
Spend time with babies
I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me smile quicker than a baby, especially a smiling baby. If you’re the same way, then spending time with a baby or babies may help put you in a better mood, too.
Do nothing
Last but certainly not least, do nothing. There’s nothing like laying in your bed and not being forced to do anything. Stay in this moment and use this time to relax and replenish your energy.
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