I don't think of it as "changing" the recipe - recipes are like patterns when making clothes - a good starting point!

The first time I use a new recipe, sometimes I follow it, but sometimes I taste-test midway through and adjust.

Hey - at least I can keep track of what I do. My grandmother's recipes are often just a list of ingredients. My mother's recipes for us would often include "then you know what to do." I never give someone a copy of a recipe without reading through it and translating!