diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 1e264e5..37257b7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 env:
-  IMAGE_NAME: startingpoint
   IMAGE_REGISTRY: ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}
 
 jobs:
@@ -41,9 +40,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout Push to Registry action
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
-      - name: Matrix Variables
+      - name: Add yq for reading recipe.yml
+        uses: mikefarah/yq@v4.33.2
+
+      - name: Gather image data from recipe
         run: |
-          echo "IMAGE_NAME=${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "IMAGE_NAME=$(yq '.name' ./recipe.yml)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "IMAGE_DESCRIPTION=$(yq '.description' ./recipe.yml)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION=$(yq '.fedora-version' ./recipe.yml)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "BASE_CONTAINER_URL=$(yq '.base-container' ./recipe.yml)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
       - name: Generate tags
         id: generate-tags
@@ -96,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
             ${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
           labels: |
             org.opencontainers.image.title=${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
-            org.opencontainers.image.description=A starting point for further customization of uBlue images. Make your own! https://ublue.it/making-your-own/
+            org.opencontainers.image.description=${{ env.IMAGE_DESCRIPTION }}
             io.artifacthub.package.readme-url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ublue-os/startingpoint/main/README.md
             io.artifacthub.package.logo-url=https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/120078124?s=200&v=4
 
@@ -111,7 +116,8 @@ jobs:
           tags: |
             ${{ steps.generate-tags.outputs.alias_tags }}
           build-args: |
-            FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION=${{ matrix.major_version }}
+            FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION=${{ env.FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION }}
+            BASE_CONTAINER_URL=${{ env.BASE_CONTAINER_URL }}
           labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
           oci: false
 
diff --git a/Containerfile b/Containerfile
index 6245b2b..34be3fd 100644
--- a/Containerfile
+++ b/Containerfile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ARG FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION=37
+ARG BASE_CONTAINER_URL=ghcr.io/ublue-os/silverblue-main
 
-# change this line if you want to change the image
-FROM ghcr.io/ublue-os/silverblue-main:${FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION}
+FROM ${BASE_CONTAINER_URL}:${FEDORA_MAJOR_VERSION}
 
 # copy over configuration files
 COPY etc /etc
diff --git a/recipe.yml b/recipe.yml
index 02f49df..28a28cc 100644
--- a/recipe.yml
+++ b/recipe.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
+# the image will be at ghcr.io/yourusername/name
+name: startingpoint
+
+# what native container image to build on top of
+# images not built by ublue might function unexpectly
+base-container: ghcr.io/ublue-os/silverblue-main
+
+# what fedora version to use, you can just change this to update
+fedora-version: 37
+
+# this description will be visible in the containers metadata
+description: A starting point for further customization of uBlue images. Make your own! https://ublue.it/making-your-own/
+
+# these rpms will be installed from the fedora repository
+# using rpm-ostree and will be preinstalled in the final image
 rpms:
-  - python3-pip # needed for yafti
+  - python3-pip # needed for yafti (the first boot installer)
+
+# these flatpaks (from flathub) will be available for install on boot
+# this is just an example selection, and even if you leave it empty,
+# you'll have the basic options available in yafti
 flatpaks:
   - org.mozilla.firefox
   - org.mozilla.Thunderbird