@Cuisine Sleuth
I don't like to get into a rut from cooking the same old thing everytime I have a dinner party. I love to make something I have never tried. If it's a bomb I apologize to my guests and remove it from the table. Since I always make at least five dishes, it's no big loss. Most of the time the food is great because I know what ingredients will work together and it gets the taste test during the cooking process. I do have an old reliable however. The best, quickest and most colorful is a recipe for Cranberry Jello Salad that is over 60 years old. My mom makes it for every dinner party she has. I use it sparingly, but make it at least four time per year. I have a tupperware jello mold that has seasonal inserts - a Christmas tree, a heart, a tulip, and a star. It's very festive for any occasion.