default.rb

include_recipe "apache"
include_recipe "php"

# Just to make it clear ;)
node.default["myface"]["template"] = "production.conf.erb"

if node.recipes.include?("myface::dev")
   include_recipe "myface::dev"
end

template "foo" do
  source node["myface"]["template"]
end

dev.rb

node.set["myface"]["template"] = "dev.conf.erb"

# do the depen-dance .... :D

run_list

"myface::default","myface::dev"