Good morning, THC followers – and Happy Friday! While this is not the big announcement promised – it’s coming this weekend – it is big news, and I want to share it with you personally. As many of you may have noticed, our posts have fallen off the radar for the past couple years, and before we jump right in, I want to share something very personal to me, as a bit of an explanation why. Cooking has always been a passion of mine – since a very young age. I’ve always enjoyed my time in the kitchen, and even more so, the joy that a home cooked meal brings to your friends and families faces. Happily, it still does.
Over the past few years, like all too many people in this country (and across the globe), I fell very heavily into addiction. What used to be an enjoyable time in the kitchen with a glass of wine or a cocktail (and yes, in the videos with the mug, there was always wine in it), turned into less interest in the kitchen (or any other activity); as my disease progressed, my desire to cook, much less write about it grew and grew. I was fearful as I entered recovery, that my love of cooking would change. Many things change in recovery, including your interests and hobbies. Thankfully, my love of cooking did not. As I’m learning about life in a sober way, my passion for cooking has returned with a clear mind, and new ideas! Here are just a few of the things we’re doing at The Homemade Chef to refocus spare time in the kitchen:
- Renewed partnership announcement and focus (those on FB already know).
- I’m working on a cookbook – yes, you read that right; a cookbook! All hand curated recipes. Be on the lookout for this sometime next year. Some of the recipes will be shared here, but most will not! The cookbook will be called Matt at Home, and will feature new and exciting recipes inspired by things I love, things I don’t eat (yes, there will be recipes for things I don’t even eat), and guest recipes from other home cooks and chefs who inspire me.
- New The Homemade Chef content right here on the blog.
- Email newsletters and exclusive content – make sure to sign up below to be added to our mailing list so you don’t miss out!
As I said above, this is something deeply personal to me, and something I’m very passionate about. I cannot believe how many people I’ve spoken to in the past few months who have said “I’m really struggling too,” or “someone I love is struggling.” It’s a battle we fight every day, and it impacts everyone around us. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out directly. You’d never believe how much a 1:1 conversation with someone with the same disease can help. There’s a big difference between someone saying “yeah, I get it, it’s a disease,” and talking to someone who has it. Trust me. It’s a disease, it’s progressive, and it’s deadly.
I can’t wait to share this new journey with you, one day at a time – IYKYK,
The Homemade Chef 