Doing something out of character is good for the soul once in a while. Doing something creative and out of character is even better even if doing it did involve a four-letter word: cook. I invented a recipe. Mr. Philately loved it. The kids hated it (which probably is the mark of a truly great recipe.)

I didn�t start out to create a recipe. All I intended to do was make something edible that was not macaroni and cheese but I didn�t have much in the way of groceries so I just kept staring at what I did have�and then I saw the can of black beans. Suddenly, inexplicably, I wanted black beans. �Your children hate black beans,� I heard a little voice say. Suddenly, irrationally, I wanted them more and I began to consider what goes with black beans.

I rooted around in the basement area we use as a pantry. Most of the corner is taken up with breakfast cereal and applesauce. Neither was a possibility. Neither goes with black beans. I spotted mostaccioli. Perfect. I could take some off separately and let the kids put butter on them. In quick order, I grabbed tomato paste and a can of Italian tomatoes. Now we were cooking�or at least making progress in thinking about it.

I thought about ricotta cheese. A search of the refrigerator turned up cottage cheese. It wasn�t ricotta but it had possibilities. I searched for onion. I hadn�t really cooked in so long that both onions were moldy. The idea that I would actually cook excited Mr. Philately. (Note to self: perhaps I should actually cook more often.) It excited him so much that he went for fresh onions while I started the mostaccioli. (New note to self: on second thought, perhaps there isn�t much in it for me if I cook more often.)

Dinner was different. Dinner was lovely until the idea of tasting the new casserole offended Day-Hay. I was prepared for her to hate it. I was prepared to give her plain mostaccioli and cottage cheese. Unfortunately, she was prepared to make a fuss.

In the musical �Music Man,� there is a song called Iowa Stubborn. In it, they sing, �We�re so by God stubborn we can stand touching noses for a week at a time and never see eye to eye.� Mr. Philately is Iowa Stubborn. Although she�s only visited Iowa, if anything, Day-Hay is more so.

Kat and I saw it coming. We cleared out. You see, my new recipe should not be called �Mostaccioli, Bean & Tomato Casserole.� No matter how delicious, it should be called �Recipe for Disaster.�

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Whatever I call it. It�s good. Here it is:

12 oz Mostaccioli

6. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

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