Hi everyone, it’s been a couple years since my last blog post. In this time I’ve often meant to come back to The Domestic Man. There were 100+ completed and photographed recipes that never made it into the final version of my last cookbook (The Heritage Cookbook), and I always planned on trickling out both the rejected and 300+ published dishes here on the website eventually.
But things are different now. We moved back to Hawaii in late 2019, right after releasing The Heritage Cookbook. The process of creating that book took a lot out of me. I spent years working at a breakneck pace to deliver the manuscript to my publisher, only to find that they were no longer interested in publishing it in the manner we had agreed upon. After a year of revisions and rejections, I decided to self-publish instead, to maintain the vision that motivated me to write this very personal tome in the first place. I’m supremely proud of the final product, especially those few physical copies that made it to print, but I think a part of me always knew that it would be my last cookbook.
So when we returned to Hawaii, it was time for a clean break. I gifted away all of my photography equipment before moving, and logged off my social media accounts. Soon after, the pandemic hit, and like with most others I found myself with a lot of calendar space. If ever there was a time to fall back in love with food blogging, that would have been it. Instead, I published an old recipe or two, baked a lot of sourdough, recorded some music, and started on a novel (which is still in the works, but far from ready).
At some point I stopped being so productive with my time, and fell into a rut of catching up on movies and video games. As one does. From that period I emerged with a new passion, to play my favorite classic games but on modern equipment. And it turns out there weren’t a lot of good tutorials on the subject out there, so I took up the challenge. After all, writing tech guides is very similar to writing recipes. I started a new website, which eventually led to a YouTube channel, and here I am a couple years later doing this as my full-time job (I retired from the military earlier this year, what a wild ride that was). I’m enjoying the experience immensely.
Really, the point of this post here is to come to terms with the fact that I’m likely not coming back to The Domestic Man. I am very thankful for my experience with this website, and the friendships I made along the way. Ironically, I created The Domestic Man in 2010 as a distraction when my old gaming blog had ran its own course; it’s now time to admit that I’m fully back in my roots with this new project, and it leaves me with little room to also maintain this food blog.
I’ll keep the lights on here for the foreseeable future, so you’ll be able to access all your favorite recipes for years to come. And who knows, maybe I’ll get the itch again and post some dishes from time to time. In the meantime, feel free to drop a line and let me know how you are doing.
Take care,
Russ
The Domestic Man 
Missing new recipes! Please do leave your website available! I come back to these recipes often. Wish you good luck in your new pursuits!
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As a fellow gamer I understand that sometimes that passion ebbs and flows. I’ve been gaming since I was a kid and there was a couple years pre pandemic that I didn’t game much. Then the pandemic hit and the world slowed down and I rediscovered what drove me to gaming as a kid and I just fell in love all over again. Enjoy your newfound hobby 🎮👾
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Thank you for posting such gre
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Thank you for this update, Russ. I adore your site and recipes. I found you at the start of COVID and do return from time to time to try new recipes. It’s great stuff, and much appreciated! Best wishes to you.
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I wish you the best Russ. I always enjoyed your recipes and advice! Thank you!!
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Shoot, I’d always held out hope you’d do another season of Deep Dish! Well, have fun with your new/old endeavors with gaming!
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Wishing you happiness in your new adventure!
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Thank you for all the recipes and reflections over the years! I make a number of your dishes regularly and am a proud owner of your cookbook (which is just such an amazing read and resource). Wishing you the best!
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All the best to you. I’m grateful for your time as The Domestic Man. I love both Paleo Takeout and The Heritage Cookbook
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Funnily enough I was just checking The Domestic Man page a few days ago wondering if there was an update! Thanks for all the great recipes and cookbooks. Will definitely check out your YouTube channel and website!
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Russ, best wishes to you in all your endeavors. Thank you for The Domestic Man. Your website is still one of my go-to sites to see how you did this or that. Colorado Chili is now MY chili recipe. If I’m making chili, it’s either that recipe or a recipe I have for Cincinnati chili (very different).
Good luck and stay well.
Best medicine.
Jon
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Russ, thanks for everything, and most importantly, thank you for your service to the nation!
I’ve benefited over the years from the site, the Safe Starch Cookbook, and physical (and digital) copies of all three cookbooks. Thanks for letting me test the Korean Fried Chicken recipe back in the day. I return to Paleo Takeout often.
As an Army Intel Officer, I was anlways amazed by your ability to juggle your professional duties and the site.
Thanks again for every, and best wishes on your new endeavors!
As an
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Life changes. What a meaningful contribution you’ve made to so many, over these many yeas, via The Domestic Man. Thank you! Best wishes as you continue to move forward in your new life, in your own way. Thank you for leaving the site up!
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Dear Russ, I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and happy. I have thought about you and your blog recently. I have all your cookbooks and still cook from them. I will miss you and I will be here if you ever get the itch to blog about food again, because I think you’re quite a talented chef and writer. Now I will sign off before I start sounding like a fangirl LOL. Thanks, Gwynn
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
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This is too weird. I kept this in my feed hoping you’d come back, but in the mean time I’d been watching your new videos and using your RG351V guide not realizing that was you! Thank you for all your hard work in both areas.
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All the best
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Thank you for letting us know you’re not just alright, but thriving after finding a new direction. As a retired veteran, I painfully recall your post after loosing your dear friend. You took a pause at that time as well. I enjoy The Heritage cookbook, along with your others. Thank you and wishing you the best in your next chapter.
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Thank you for all the years! I cherish my recipes from you. Best to you in the future!
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Being a fairly new follower of your blog, thank you for the legacy of delicious re recipes and beautiful cookbooks. Creating, photographing, and publishing these are not my jam, so I appreciate that they have been yours, and yours to share. Best of luck for the future, and thanks for keeping the blog up so that new(er)comers can keep benefiting from your labor of love here.
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We’ll miss you! Your skillet pizza has been a weekend staple of ours for years, and we constantly try new recipes for our family. Thank you for your balanced approach to nutrition and all the fun recipes. – The Wilson’s
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I was one of the lucky ones to get the Heritage cookbook! I hope you enjoy your hobbies. Your recipes have never disappointed, and it’s a very common thing for people to compliment my cooking and I reply with “The Domestic Man”. Thank you for sharing your love of good cooking for all of us whose guts have decided to rebel. This healthier cooking has made a huge improvement to the quality of my life. Thank you!
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Just starting to follow the domestic man now! Great title
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Russ, my daughter and I have been followers of The Domestic Man and are both proud owners of The Heritage Cookbook. We’re sorry to see the end of your posts here. But she’s a gamer and I’m a writer, and as such, we’re both very interested to learn more of your new paths. We wish you great good fortune, and Happy Noveling!
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You are the best Russ! : D
It’s always inspiring to visit your site and read your recipes and seeing what’s new. Sounds like you have some good things in the works. Wishing you the best!
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Thank you for the great gluten free recipes! I have followed you for years and have your books too. Glad to hear that you are doing well! I travel to Hawaii quite often and it is a great place to hang out! Good luck on your future projects!
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Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. Paleo Takeout & The Ancestral Table are two of my favorite cookbooks. Best wishes on your new career path!
Angie
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Welcome back and enjoy the blogging world.
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Russ, I have The Ancestral Table and The Heritage Cookbook (in print!) and have very much enjoyed your approach to health and cooking. I have missed posting here but I’m very grateful for the influence of the cookbooks in my approach to cooking. I work full time and have three young children but I find most of the recipes very approachable. Best of luck to you in your new venture… it’s funny, my husband is into retro games so I’ll send him your channel. :)
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