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We Fancy: Simple Recipes To Make The Everyday Special
From beloved food writer and author of the James Beard Award finalist Black Girl Baking comes a joyous cookbook that transforms everyday meals into something special and unexpected with just a few simple flourishes.
Fanciness is a mindset. It’s realizing that you can make everyday food feel special using what you likely already have on hand. It’s about seeing the act of cooking not just as another thing to do, but as a nourishing ritual to help ease away the day’s stress.
In We Fancy, Jerrelle Guy teaches you how to use pantry staples like canned beans, crackers, or a pint of vanilla ice cream, and tools like sheet pans and your air fryer, to transform typical weeknight dinners into something easy but memorable. Nearly Instantaneous Risotto made with black or roasted garlic, Double-Stacked Black Bean Burgers smashed with tortilla chips, Artichokes in the Perfect Butter Wine Sauce, and Olive Oil Brownie Pudding covered with chopped nuts.
We Fancy shows that cooking is both a creative and a practical act, and in these pages with beautiful and wise writing that is meant to heal, guide and inspire, Jerrelle gives us new recipes and reasons to look forward to dinner.
Fanciness is a mindset. It’s realizing that you can make everyday food feel special using what you likely already have on hand. It’s about seeing the act of cooking not just as another thing to do, but as a nourishing ritual to help ease away the day’s stress.
In We Fancy, Jerrelle Guy teaches you how to use pantry staples like canned beans, crackers, or a pint of vanilla ice cream, and tools like sheet pans and your air fryer, to transform typical weeknight dinners into something easy but memorable. Nearly Instantaneous Risotto made with black or roasted garlic, Double-Stacked Black Bean Burgers smashed with tortilla chips, Artichokes in the Perfect Butter Wine Sauce, and Olive Oil Brownie Pudding covered with chopped nuts.
We Fancy shows that cooking is both a creative and a practical act, and in these pages with beautiful and wise writing that is meant to heal, guide and inspire, Jerrelle gives us new recipes and reasons to look forward to dinner.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 31, 2026
God, I love meat.
Like, I'm not even going to lie - I trend carnivore. This cook book is lovely, fancy, and not for meat lovers.
There are some recipes that feature meat - mostly fish and a little beef I think. However, the book is really veggie forward. And it looks really good and I'd try just about all of it...and I want meat.
Wonderful photos of delicious food and recipes that are easy to follow.
I think it's really nice that there's a book like this for those folks who are not into meat. It's just not me. Still 4 stars, though, because I would taste it all.
Like, I'm not even going to lie - I trend carnivore. This cook book is lovely, fancy, and not for meat lovers.
There are some recipes that feature meat - mostly fish and a little beef I think. However, the book is really veggie forward. And it looks really good and I'd try just about all of it...and I want meat.
Wonderful photos of delicious food and recipes that are easy to follow.
I think it's really nice that there's a book like this for those folks who are not into meat. It's just not me. Still 4 stars, though, because I would taste it all.
March 8, 2026
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
We Fancy is a nicely curated culinary style guide with recipes by Jerrelle Guy. Released 10th Feb 2026 by Simon & Schuster on their Simon Element imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Everyday dishes with stylish, often simple, twists which elevate them beyond the ordinary. There's a very playful, fun vibe with lots of whimsy and, yes, style. The author manages to give the extra oomph without being fussy or sacrificing taste for looks.
The recipes are arranged thematically: drinks, dinner snacks, fast'n'fancy, quick to prep, jazzy rice, elegant sides, inner-child pleasers, solo meals, lavish leftovers, breakfast for dinner, weeknight desserts, toppings, sauces, sprinkles & crunchies, and flavor bombs.
Recipes are flagged/coded for dietary info such as dairy free, nut free, refined sugar free, etc. Nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Ingredient measurements are written in imperial (American) units.
The author/publisher have also included (in the release copy) resources, references, and index as well as bookclub/discussion topics (which is super cool)
The recipes as pictured are attractive and appetizing, professionally styled and in color.
Four and a half stars, it would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition or home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
We Fancy is a nicely curated culinary style guide with recipes by Jerrelle Guy. Released 10th Feb 2026 by Simon & Schuster on their Simon Element imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Everyday dishes with stylish, often simple, twists which elevate them beyond the ordinary. There's a very playful, fun vibe with lots of whimsy and, yes, style. The author manages to give the extra oomph without being fussy or sacrificing taste for looks.
The recipes are arranged thematically: drinks, dinner snacks, fast'n'fancy, quick to prep, jazzy rice, elegant sides, inner-child pleasers, solo meals, lavish leftovers, breakfast for dinner, weeknight desserts, toppings, sauces, sprinkles & crunchies, and flavor bombs.
Recipes are flagged/coded for dietary info such as dairy free, nut free, refined sugar free, etc. Nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Ingredient measurements are written in imperial (American) units.
The author/publisher have also included (in the release copy) resources, references, and index as well as bookclub/discussion topics (which is super cool)
The recipes as pictured are attractive and appetizing, professionally styled and in color.
Four and a half stars, it would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition or home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 18, 2026
I read so many cookbooks that I don’t often include them in my book count, but I need to purchase this one so I’m recording it.
February 20, 2026
Broken and burned out, Jerrelle Guy didn’t want to cook anymore. After her first cookbook came out, Black Girl Baking, she was nominated for a James Beard award. She had built a business for herself writing recipes and photographing food, and she said yes to every opportunity that came her way. But after too many days with long hours working and some issues beyond her control (Covid, the Texas blizzard that left them without power for days), she just couldn’t keep going. She had pushed herself too far.
In recovering from that burnout and trying to find a more balanced way to live, she made some rules for herself for cooking. And she found a new way of looking at dinner. With inner work that she put in on her soul and the play she discovered in her kitchen, she has found healing and delicious meals as she crafted a new way to live.
We Fancy is the cookbook where Guy teaches cooks to find their own joy and refuge in their own kitchen. She defines being “fancy” as being imaginative and unafraid. It’s about being resourceful, bringing magic back to the kitchen, and living a vibrant and fulfilled life. It’s a mindset, and being fancy involves turning your kitchen into a place where you can express yourself playfully and mindfully to create food that is delicious, beautiful, intentional, and often simple.
She is a big believer in shortcuts and offers many recipes that are versatile and easy, perfect for weeknights. Lots of her recipes are meatless or seafood-based, but she includes flavor bombs and garnish ideas to add sparkle and texture to the dishes. There are recipes for drinks, like her Smoky Mango Kombucha Spritz or All-Nighter Dragon Iced Lattes. There are Dinner Snacks, like Sour Cream and Onion Edamame, Peanut Butter Cracker Brittle, or Hot Pickle Dip.
For quick dinners, she offers up Black Garlic Risotto, Five-Spice Maple-Glazed Salmon, and Gnocchi with Clams and Leeks. For windows of longer cooking, she has Eggplant Parm Ravioli with her Effortless Marinara, Salisbury Steak with Berbere Gravy and Sage with Parsnip Puree, Double Stacked Smash-Bean Burgers with Sweet Corn Crema, and Mahi Sliders with Island Achiote Dressing. There are three types of Jazzy Rice as well as Elegant Sides, like Caramelized Onion Green Beans, Shiny Almond and Peach Cornbread, Gochujang Cabbage and Carrots, and Crispy Buffalo Brussels Sprouts.
There are recipes for her inner child (Walnut Chili Cheese Dawgs and Beans and Hasselbeck Sausages) as well as ideas for breakfast for dinner (Pearl Sugar Cornbread Waffles and Sheet Pan Rosemary French Toast Bites). If you’re flying solo, there are ideas for being fancy by yourself, like Creamy Coconut Ramen or BYO Burger Bowl. Or if you have to do something with your leftovers, there are ideas like Tomato and Ginger Curry, Mango and Miso Salmon Grain Bowls, and Shakshuka Bolognese.
There is a chapter on weeknight desserts, like a “Fried” Banana Split, Olive Oil Brownie Pudding, or Overnight Tiramisu Cheesecake. And there is an entire chapter on toppings, so you can make your own Venusian Ketchup, Salted Black Sesame Fudge Sauce, Frazzled Onions, Garlic Chips, Pizza Butter, Rosemary Truffle Aioli, and Basil Oil.
We Fancy is a cookbook that blends together playfulness with sophisticated flavors. It’s about finding your place in the kitchen, but with the help of a woman with a master’s degree in gastronomy and a head start in approaching her kitchen with a fancy mindset. Guy even includes a list of the books that helped her recover from her burnout and find her joy at cooking again. And of course the photography is phenomenal throughout the book.
I found We Fancy inspiring. I know I’ve been struggling with inspiration in the kitchen in the last few months, and I like the idea of making the kitchen my own again. Turning it into a refuge and cooking for my inner child will help me get more excited about spending time cooking and creating nourishing recipes and thinking through time savers and flavor bombs. And while I’m not sure all the flavors of these recipes will work for all families, I think the idea and inspiration behind the cookbook can help heal and encourage cooks to take back their kitchens and learn to be fancy.
Egalleys for We Fancy were provided by S&S/Simon Element through Edelweiss, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
In recovering from that burnout and trying to find a more balanced way to live, she made some rules for herself for cooking. And she found a new way of looking at dinner. With inner work that she put in on her soul and the play she discovered in her kitchen, she has found healing and delicious meals as she crafted a new way to live.
We Fancy is the cookbook where Guy teaches cooks to find their own joy and refuge in their own kitchen. She defines being “fancy” as being imaginative and unafraid. It’s about being resourceful, bringing magic back to the kitchen, and living a vibrant and fulfilled life. It’s a mindset, and being fancy involves turning your kitchen into a place where you can express yourself playfully and mindfully to create food that is delicious, beautiful, intentional, and often simple.
She is a big believer in shortcuts and offers many recipes that are versatile and easy, perfect for weeknights. Lots of her recipes are meatless or seafood-based, but she includes flavor bombs and garnish ideas to add sparkle and texture to the dishes. There are recipes for drinks, like her Smoky Mango Kombucha Spritz or All-Nighter Dragon Iced Lattes. There are Dinner Snacks, like Sour Cream and Onion Edamame, Peanut Butter Cracker Brittle, or Hot Pickle Dip.
For quick dinners, she offers up Black Garlic Risotto, Five-Spice Maple-Glazed Salmon, and Gnocchi with Clams and Leeks. For windows of longer cooking, she has Eggplant Parm Ravioli with her Effortless Marinara, Salisbury Steak with Berbere Gravy and Sage with Parsnip Puree, Double Stacked Smash-Bean Burgers with Sweet Corn Crema, and Mahi Sliders with Island Achiote Dressing. There are three types of Jazzy Rice as well as Elegant Sides, like Caramelized Onion Green Beans, Shiny Almond and Peach Cornbread, Gochujang Cabbage and Carrots, and Crispy Buffalo Brussels Sprouts.
There are recipes for her inner child (Walnut Chili Cheese Dawgs and Beans and Hasselbeck Sausages) as well as ideas for breakfast for dinner (Pearl Sugar Cornbread Waffles and Sheet Pan Rosemary French Toast Bites). If you’re flying solo, there are ideas for being fancy by yourself, like Creamy Coconut Ramen or BYO Burger Bowl. Or if you have to do something with your leftovers, there are ideas like Tomato and Ginger Curry, Mango and Miso Salmon Grain Bowls, and Shakshuka Bolognese.
There is a chapter on weeknight desserts, like a “Fried” Banana Split, Olive Oil Brownie Pudding, or Overnight Tiramisu Cheesecake. And there is an entire chapter on toppings, so you can make your own Venusian Ketchup, Salted Black Sesame Fudge Sauce, Frazzled Onions, Garlic Chips, Pizza Butter, Rosemary Truffle Aioli, and Basil Oil.
We Fancy is a cookbook that blends together playfulness with sophisticated flavors. It’s about finding your place in the kitchen, but with the help of a woman with a master’s degree in gastronomy and a head start in approaching her kitchen with a fancy mindset. Guy even includes a list of the books that helped her recover from her burnout and find her joy at cooking again. And of course the photography is phenomenal throughout the book.
I found We Fancy inspiring. I know I’ve been struggling with inspiration in the kitchen in the last few months, and I like the idea of making the kitchen my own again. Turning it into a refuge and cooking for my inner child will help me get more excited about spending time cooking and creating nourishing recipes and thinking through time savers and flavor bombs. And while I’m not sure all the flavors of these recipes will work for all families, I think the idea and inspiration behind the cookbook can help heal and encourage cooks to take back their kitchens and learn to be fancy.
Egalleys for We Fancy were provided by S&S/Simon Element through Edelweiss, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
We Fancy.
I'm not familiar with the author so I went into this with an open mind.
The author states 'fancy' is a mindset but after looking through the recipes, I think she means it literally.
The book attempts to combine simplicity with elegance, but it falls short since none of these recipes are simple and quick to complete.
While some dishes look pretty, they are labor intensive to make despite being labeled as simple.
Some dishes require 'fancy' ingredients that may not be accessible for people living in certain areas.
The formatting on Kindle is awkward and messy, which I know can happen sometime.
It did make reading distracting and difficult to keep track of what recipe belong with which photo.
The photos of the dishes look pretty but at the same time, the images are affected by lighting issues, which made them look a bit dark and less inviting.
I appreciate the author's unique twists on certain recipes, which add a personal touch.
However, most recipes require a significant time and effort and many instructions, which are formatted poorly on Kindle.
Since I'm a notoriously lazy cook, I don't see myself trying to make any of these recipes unless someone else is making them for me.
If you're looking for a challenge, some of these recipes will intrigue you to attempt to make them.
It may also give you some ideas to try different types of food and shake up your eating routine.
I'm not familiar with the author so I went into this with an open mind.
The author states 'fancy' is a mindset but after looking through the recipes, I think she means it literally.
The book attempts to combine simplicity with elegance, but it falls short since none of these recipes are simple and quick to complete.
While some dishes look pretty, they are labor intensive to make despite being labeled as simple.
Some dishes require 'fancy' ingredients that may not be accessible for people living in certain areas.
The formatting on Kindle is awkward and messy, which I know can happen sometime.
It did make reading distracting and difficult to keep track of what recipe belong with which photo.
The photos of the dishes look pretty but at the same time, the images are affected by lighting issues, which made them look a bit dark and less inviting.
I appreciate the author's unique twists on certain recipes, which add a personal touch.
However, most recipes require a significant time and effort and many instructions, which are formatted poorly on Kindle.
Since I'm a notoriously lazy cook, I don't see myself trying to make any of these recipes unless someone else is making them for me.
If you're looking for a challenge, some of these recipes will intrigue you to attempt to make them.
It may also give you some ideas to try different types of food and shake up your eating routine.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We Fancy is a joyful and accessible cookbook that proves everyday meals can feel special without being complicated. One of my favorite features is the clear key on each recipe indicating whether it’s gluten free, dairy free, under 30 minutes, and more. As someone who is both vegetarian and gluten free, this made skimming for recipes that fit my needs incredibly easy.
The recipes themselves are approachable, which I appreciate as someone who often cooks for just myself. When a recipe calls for too many ingredients, I get overwhelmed; Jerrelle Guy offers plenty of simple, doable options without sacrificing creativity. The “solo toasts” grid is brilliant and you have to see it in the book to fully appreciate how clever and customizable it is.
Another standout section is the guide to repurposing leftovers. After making certain dishes, you’re given ways to transform what remains into something entirely new. It’s innovative, practical, and perfect for reducing waste.
The book closes with sauces, flavor bombs, sprinkles, and crunches: small flourishes that capture the heart of the book’s message: fanciness is a mindset, and even simple additions can elevate a meal.
A beautiful and inspiring cookbook for anyone who wants everyday cooking to feel a little more joyful and a lot more doable.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
The recipes themselves are approachable, which I appreciate as someone who often cooks for just myself. When a recipe calls for too many ingredients, I get overwhelmed; Jerrelle Guy offers plenty of simple, doable options without sacrificing creativity. The “solo toasts” grid is brilliant and you have to see it in the book to fully appreciate how clever and customizable it is.
Another standout section is the guide to repurposing leftovers. After making certain dishes, you’re given ways to transform what remains into something entirely new. It’s innovative, practical, and perfect for reducing waste.
The book closes with sauces, flavor bombs, sprinkles, and crunches: small flourishes that capture the heart of the book’s message: fanciness is a mindset, and even simple additions can elevate a meal.
A beautiful and inspiring cookbook for anyone who wants everyday cooking to feel a little more joyful and a lot more doable.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
February 19, 2026
This is one of those cookbooks that made me want to start cooking the second I started flipping through it.
We Fancy has such a clear, good idea at its center, you don't need expensive ingredients or complicated techniques to make food feel like an event.
Jerrelle Guy takes things most of us already have (canned beans, crackers... that air fryer that's been collecting dust) and shows you how to turn a Tuesday night dinner into something you're actually excited about. And the recipes genuinely deliver on that promise.
But what surprised me most is the writing. This isn't a cookbook that treats the headnotes as filler between ingredient lists. Jerrelle writes about food the way I wish more people did. Like cooking is a real thing that happens in a real life, not a performance. There's warmth here, and honesty, and this gentle insistence that making dinner can be a way to take care of yourself and not just another task on your never ending to do list.
If you're the kind of person who wants to cook more but keeps getting stuck in the "what's even the point" rut, this book is the answer to that question.
Buy it for yourself. Then buy it again for the friend who keeps ordering takeout and saying they wish they cooked more.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element for the ARC all opinions are my own.
We Fancy has such a clear, good idea at its center, you don't need expensive ingredients or complicated techniques to make food feel like an event.
Jerrelle Guy takes things most of us already have (canned beans, crackers... that air fryer that's been collecting dust) and shows you how to turn a Tuesday night dinner into something you're actually excited about. And the recipes genuinely deliver on that promise.
But what surprised me most is the writing. This isn't a cookbook that treats the headnotes as filler between ingredient lists. Jerrelle writes about food the way I wish more people did. Like cooking is a real thing that happens in a real life, not a performance. There's warmth here, and honesty, and this gentle insistence that making dinner can be a way to take care of yourself and not just another task on your never ending to do list.
If you're the kind of person who wants to cook more but keeps getting stuck in the "what's even the point" rut, this book is the answer to that question.
Buy it for yourself. Then buy it again for the friend who keeps ordering takeout and saying they wish they cooked more.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element for the ARC all opinions are my own.
February 18, 2026
Thank you for the ARC - Netgalley.
Some cookbooks teach technique, and others invite you into a way of living — this one absolutely does the latter.
The idea that being fancy is a mindset rather than a performance resonated deeply with me. The book encourages you to find beauty in the everyday, whether that’s breakfast for dinner (my forever favorite) or a thoughtfully prepared weeknight meal.
As someone who is vegetarian and gluten-intolerant, I felt seen throughout. The flexibility in recipes, the mocktail options, and especially the section for cooking for one made this feel practical as well as inspiring. I often cook separate meals for myself and my family, and the structure here genuinely supports that reality.
What I loved most was the mindfulness: the reminders to practice gratitude for the farmers, the transport, and the hands that bring food to us. It reframes cooking as connection. The tributes and discussion questions at the end add such warmth and make the book feel like a conversation rather than just a collection of recipes. A recipe that made me stop was the Sweet n sour coconut skewers - it sounded so fancy and cozy.
This is a cookbook you read, cook from, and linger with.
Some cookbooks teach technique, and others invite you into a way of living — this one absolutely does the latter.
The idea that being fancy is a mindset rather than a performance resonated deeply with me. The book encourages you to find beauty in the everyday, whether that’s breakfast for dinner (my forever favorite) or a thoughtfully prepared weeknight meal.
As someone who is vegetarian and gluten-intolerant, I felt seen throughout. The flexibility in recipes, the mocktail options, and especially the section for cooking for one made this feel practical as well as inspiring. I often cook separate meals for myself and my family, and the structure here genuinely supports that reality.
What I loved most was the mindfulness: the reminders to practice gratitude for the farmers, the transport, and the hands that bring food to us. It reframes cooking as connection. The tributes and discussion questions at the end add such warmth and make the book feel like a conversation rather than just a collection of recipes. A recipe that made me stop was the Sweet n sour coconut skewers - it sounded so fancy and cozy.
This is a cookbook you read, cook from, and linger with.
November 23, 2025
This is a delightful cookbook with really inventive, tasty recipes. As a forager, I loved how many recipes involved ingredients I can forage for (generally wild mushrooms like lion’s mane). There is a photo for almost every recipe (though they are very dark — I hope this is just because I read an advance copy?) and there are abbreviations to let you know if they are gluten free, nut free, dairy free, etc.
There are many vegetarian recipes and a lot of notes on how to convert to dairy free, gluten free and so on. Every recipe has a little note or story. There are cocktails, sauces, breakfasts, fast meals, slow meals and so on.
It does tend to call for specialty ingredients like saffron threads and specialty jarred peppers. A lot of the recipes wouldn’t work for my family because we are rural and my kids are gluten free, but I adored the cookbook and found it inspiring and fun.
I read a temporary digital prerelease version of this book via netgalley.
There are many vegetarian recipes and a lot of notes on how to convert to dairy free, gluten free and so on. Every recipe has a little note or story. There are cocktails, sauces, breakfasts, fast meals, slow meals and so on.
It does tend to call for specialty ingredients like saffron threads and specialty jarred peppers. A lot of the recipes wouldn’t work for my family because we are rural and my kids are gluten free, but I adored the cookbook and found it inspiring and fun.
I read a temporary digital prerelease version of this book via netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jerrelle Guy of Black Girl Baking now brings us We Fancy, a fun take on fancy-ing up your food and adding enjoyment to the process. The directions are clear and not overly complicated but still impart a bit of fancy. I particularly enjoyed the recipes that take comforting staples, like green beans dressed up with almonds and onions, or salisbury steaks with fancy gravy. Crunchy-Bottom Cast Iron Fried Rice with "egg rolls" will have a place in my heart and stomach forever. Not all the recipes will work for my whole family but there wasn't one that I wouldn't try myself.
Also included are a diverse list of books that Jerrelle finds inspiring (and they are not all about food and cooking), and Journal Reflections/Cookbook Club Discussion Questions. I've never seen those things included in a cookbook and I hope I see more of it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Also included are a diverse list of books that Jerrelle finds inspiring (and they are not all about food and cooking), and Journal Reflections/Cookbook Club Discussion Questions. I've never seen those things included in a cookbook and I hope I see more of it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2026
Beautiful book, delicious food. Everything is clearly laid out and easy to understand, and the tips to make food better and to help you with the cooking/preparation are all very helpful. This cookbook is quickly becoming one of my favorites to use to make a regular night have even better food. Thank you so much to Jerrelle Guy for writing it and giving us such tasty recipes as the double-crusted feta sticks and the tuna furikake casserole - recipes that take tried and true classics but elevate them to make them even more delicious. I've never loved a tuna casserole until this one. I will be strongly recommending this cookbook to all my people in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.
November 22, 2025
Netgalley ARC-I didn't know what to expect. I've seen some of her other work and liked it so a whole collection seemed okay. This though is a weird mix of overly complicated and deceptively simple recipes that look good but definitely don't meet my definition of simple everyday cooking. It however does look delicious so that's not necessarily a bad thing. It leans heavily towards vegetarian but does include animal protein recipes, and has some great photography to help sell the dishes.
December 1, 2025
Fun and different flavor combinations! Blueberry BBQ sauce, kombucha spritz, hot pickle dip, and jalapeño cream cheese are a few. The intro has some thoughtful notes on decluttering, upgrading serveware, and utilizing the freezer to feel less overwhelmed.
There are photos of most recipes, and while there are a lot of ingredients per recipe, the majority of them are items and seasoning you’d already have in the pantry.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy!
There are photos of most recipes, and while there are a lot of ingredients per recipe, the majority of them are items and seasoning you’d already have in the pantry.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy!
Did Not Finish
March 1, 2026Things I loved:
-the tone of this book
-the idea that we deserve something extra, the little bit of fancy we can bring
-breaking free from burnout and doing what we loved
-the photographs were GORGEOUS and eye-watering
Things I didn't love:
-the food felt a little bit fussy or needlessly complicated sometimes
-a lot of it wasn't food I was super excited about, but that's just personal preference I think.
Overall, a beautiful cookbook filled with great vibes
-the tone of this book
-the idea that we deserve something extra, the little bit of fancy we can bring
-breaking free from burnout and doing what we loved
-the photographs were GORGEOUS and eye-watering
Things I didn't love:
-the food felt a little bit fussy or needlessly complicated sometimes
-a lot of it wasn't food I was super excited about, but that's just personal preference I think.
Overall, a beautiful cookbook filled with great vibes
April 26, 2026
I really wanted to like this book -- it's gorgeous and promising - but the recipes I tried just didn't work. For example, the "shiitake lardons" looked very exciting. Take dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrate them in olive or avocado oil for "15-20 minutes" slice thin and bake. 20 minutes of soaking, my shiitakes were not noticeably soft. 2 hours of soaking, the same. I bought these at Pald0 World not that long ago and they worked for the last recipe I used them in just fine.
March 21, 2026
This cookbook had a really interesting theme going on: making simple food fancy. The recipes did make the food sound really elegant and high-scale. The cookbook was alright in its recipes, which I just didn't find interesting.
March 1, 2026
Being fancy is when you realize you already have much of what you need to live a rich, fulfilling, and extraordinary life.
March 7, 2026
I've made three recipes from this beautifully written and photographed cookbook. (Rice Krispie Tofu Nuggets, Very Green Ranch Dressing, and Hippy Hemp Dressing.) Every one was a standout.
April 10, 2026
Tries to add a fancy element to many recipes; while I'm often super busy, many of these extra steps aren't too much extra, but still...I'm often at capacity. Some interesting sounding recipes to try.
June 21, 2026
This is one of those cookbooks that I can just pick up and browse thru on a lazy afternoon. Lots of photos and approachable recipes. Recipes that are simple yet "fancy". Check this one out!
January 29, 2026
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
What a fun read! We love everyday romanticism of the mundane (dinner.)
The recipes in this book are solid, nothing that really stood out to me at first; HOWEVER, the leftover repurposing???? IN CRED IBLE. How creative!!! Truly something I haven’t seen before (other than intentional meal prep.)
I love when cookbooks include footnotes about substations or swaps that make it easier or more accessible. Great option for a split diets home (meat eater vs vegetarian, dairy free, etc.)
I really enjoyed the lil blurbs before each recipe - more so than normal. Great tone, engaging stories, compelling photography.
All around, a surprising 5 stars from me!! I didn’t expect to like this so much! I’ve already recommended to a few friends.
What a fun read! We love everyday romanticism of the mundane (dinner.)
The recipes in this book are solid, nothing that really stood out to me at first; HOWEVER, the leftover repurposing???? IN CRED IBLE. How creative!!! Truly something I haven’t seen before (other than intentional meal prep.)
I love when cookbooks include footnotes about substations or swaps that make it easier or more accessible. Great option for a split diets home (meat eater vs vegetarian, dairy free, etc.)
I really enjoyed the lil blurbs before each recipe - more so than normal. Great tone, engaging stories, compelling photography.
All around, a surprising 5 stars from me!! I didn’t expect to like this so much! I’ve already recommended to a few friends.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews