When you think of fancy food, what pops into your head? Maybe it’s white tablecloths, tuxedoed servers and a sky-high dinner bill.

But for Jerrelle Guy, fancy is a state of mind. It has less to do with pretentious restaurants and more to do with taking time to nourish yourself, using what you have on hand.

Guy, who was born in South Florida and now lives in Dallas, Texas, offers a blueprint for creative everyday fancy moments in her new cookbook. It’s called We Fancy: Simple Recipes To Make The Everyday Special. Her previous cookbook, Black Girl Baking: Wholesome Recipes Inspired by a Soulful Upbringing, was a 2019 James Beard Award finalist.

Dalia recently caught up with Guy, who juggles the titles of cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer and new mom. In this conversation, Guy offers simple ways to elevate home cooking and shares why her job is harder than it looks.