Yes, but usually twists to familiar recipes & techniques. I don't mess with the main dishes. Also I stick to *non-essential* items, such as additional sides, appetizers, spreads or dessert toppings-- things that if they don't turn out 100% right, they could be say, be secretly eliminated and never discussed again- and their absense won't affect the overall meal... I have had to toss a thing or two without any guests knowing that they ever existed... most recently, a carrot ginger dressing recipe from one of the Mousewood Cafe cookbooks that was supposed to be just like that orange dressing commonly served at Japanese restaurants-- but it turned out like a weird carrot slushy. I had my favorite prepared Ginger dressing ready as a backup. Privately, my husband asked "what *were* all those carrots for, anyway?" ;-) ...But the guests never knew about it. And I am still trying to figure out how to make the stuff.
