About Zan
About Me – How I Went from Corporate Chaos to Kitchen Creativity
I’ve always been a creative spirit – the kind who gets more excited about a fresh box of pastels than a shiny new iPhone. I went to an arts-focused school where I dabbled in painting, sculpting, printmaking, and graphic design – basically, if it involved splattering, carving, or smearing, I was all in. But, like many aspiring artists, I took a hard left turn into the corporate world, where I found myself running operations for multiple companies. Yep, the kid who once made clay pots for fun ended up overseeing everything from sales and marketing to manufacturing and compliance. I even spent 15 years jet-setting around the globe, setting up factories, and developing new products. It was a wild ride – a mix of spreadsheets, jet lag, and a crash course in international business. But somewhere between the conference calls and customs lines, I realized I’d lost sight of the most important thing in my life – my family.
So, in 2014, I hung up my corporate hat and traded my laptop for a spatula. Did I always love cooking? Absolutely not. As a kid, I wouldn’t touch anything green unless it was artificially flavored lime candy. Then, in college, I went vegetarian – which was a major plot twist. Enter my husband – a guy who actually loves cooking and has a deep affection for all things Italy (which he lovingly refers to as “EATaly”). He slowly broke down my picky eater defenses, and then – BAM – I got pregnant and craved a steak like my life depended on it. I’m not saying that steak changed my life, but… actually, yeah, it kind of did. It was the gateway meat that brought me back to the carnivorous side for good.
Cooking quickly became my creative outlet – the perfect blend of science, art, and a dash of chaos. Now, I whip up dishes for my family of foodies (minus my daughter, who seems determined to live on a diet of about six foods). I started Zelicious Recipes as a way to share my culinary experiments with friends and family, who have cheered me on through this new adventure.
So here we are – welcome to my kitchen chaos. Let the journey begin.
Thanks for being here.
With love and a pinch of salt,
Zan ❤️
Moroccan Chicken and Vegetable Stew (Paleo)
After a traditional Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to make some aromatic, and spicy ethnic food. I pulled out a "somewhat Paleo" recipe book, written by Dr. Mark Hyman called "The 10-Day Detox Diet Cookbook", based on his book "The Blood Sugar Solution". It's...
Balsamic Glazed Pork and Peaches
I'm always trying to find new and different flavors to combine with pork chops, other than the traditional apple. So, I reached for my ever trustworthy and inspirational book, "The Flavor Bible". It had all of these ingredients listed in the "affinities" section. And...
Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Garlic and Bacon
Brussel sprouts are such a great winter treat, as long as they have a little sweetness, and are super easy to prepare. I love them a little crunchy which a touch of garlic. And as we all know, EVERYTHING is better with Bacon!!! 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trim off stem...
Paleo Turkey Lettuce Wraps (AKA Turkey Larb)
Here is a great light Thai inspired dish that I have made numerous times! And falls into the Paleo category. I have been trying to find other alternative recipes to red meat (beef), and honestly after watching "CowSpiracy" I have been avoiding red meat about 95% of...
Need a little Inspiration for the Holidays?
With the holiday season quickly sneaking up on us, I thought I would share one of my essential tools and sources of inspiration in my kitchen. The Flavor Bible has changed my life, the way I cook, how I shop for ingredients and has saved my ass when trying to figure...
Pasta Alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clams)
Traditional "Pasta Alle Vongole", spaghetti with clams, is almost impossible to make here is the US, as "vongole" (the small, Mediterranean Wedge Shell, also known as the Tellina or "bean clam") are hard to come by in Boulder, CO. So, in this dish, I used little neck...
Watermelon Margaritas
Watermelon margaritas are a great summer cocktail! We made these on our girl's trip in Mexico, but ironically it was hard to find fresh limes! Definitely start with 100% Agave Tequila, fresh limes and use seedless watermelon to save time. I always use Agave Nectar for...
Green Smoothie – Spinach, Apple & Ginger
I try and start most mornings off with a healthy antioxidant green smoothie that has a balance of veggies, fruits, and protein. As I get older, I realize my body is not recovering from exercise as quickly as it used to, so I make it a point of including antioxidants...
Kale Salad with Togarashi
Kale Salad with Togarashi, Apples, Pecorino, Sweet Almonds and Dried Cranberries This is one of my favorite salads. With Kale being one of the highest nutrient rich foods (and ANDI score of 1000), I try to squeeze this in my dinners as often as possible. The most...
