Said she'd be right back. She took the turkey into the kitchen, brushed it off, made cosmetic repairs as needed and sailed back with it to her guests. If you're entertaining, you'll only make your guests feel uncomfortable if your ice-cream pie is runny and you spend the rest of the evening apologizing. Turn on the creative juices. If it's beyond salvaging, serve fruit or make a fancy cup of coffee instead.
Few desserts are beyond salvaging.
Keep ice cream in the freezer for dessert emergencies. Also keep pasta and sauce in the pantry for main-dish disasters. Here are some tips on how to turn those experimental mistakes into, well, something edible. Break into chunks and layer in a glass bowl or glasses to make trifle or parfaits. Layer with fruit, ice cream, custard, dessert sauces, liqueur-laced whipped cream.