She Strengthens

Reimagining the Art of Jam-Making

In a small Charlotte, North Carolina apartment, a passion project was born. Ashley Rouse’s experimentation with unconventional flavors and ingredients transformed into Trade Street Jam Co., an online business offering a diverse range of small-batch, vegan jams. These artisanal creations go beyond the traditional toast topping, inviting users to incorporate them into cocktails, salad dressings, BBQ sauces, and more.

The Art of Handcrafted Jam

Ashley’s team carefully crafts each batch, slowly cooking down fresh fruit to create a rich, thick spread with minimal added sugar and no pectin or preservatives. The result is six unique flavors: strawberry, chipotle & fig; smoked yellow peach; plum & rose; blueberry, lemon, basil; sour cherry ginger; and blackberry mulled Merlot. Each flavor is available for purchase online and can be found in select small businesses across the country, from New York to California.

Summer’s Sweet Salvation: Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles

As the temperature rises, Ashley’s recipe for blueberry cheesecake popsicles provides the perfect respite. These refreshing treats combine the sweetness of blueberries and cheesecake, bound together by Trade Street’s blueberry, lemon, and basil jam. To create these popsicles, simply blend the ingredients separately, pour into molds, and freeze overnight.

Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles Recipe

Makes: 6

Blueberry Mixture:

• 1 cup blueberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup water

Cheesecake Mixture:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine blueberry mixture ingredients in a saucepan and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
2. Blend the mixture in a blender and let cool completely.
3. Blend the cheesecake mixture ingredients until smooth.
4. Divide the blueberry mixture among 8-10 popsicle molds.
5. Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the blueberry mix in each mold.
6. Cover molds with tops, insert wooden popsicle sticks, and freeze overnight.

These popsicles are the perfect companion for hot summer days, providing a refreshing escape from the sun.