Letter from the Publisher
Sep 02, 2025 ● By Peggy Malecki
Peggy Malecki
By late summer, the fruit vendors' tables at Chicago-area farmers markets begin to shift. Peaches and other mid-summer bounty give way to eagerly anticipated plums, pears and grapes. Plums take center stage—Italian and European varieties like the deep purple-red Damson, along with Asian and hybrid types in shades of purple, red, gold and cream. Their colors mirror the palettes of September’s native flowers.
Each year I bake this traditional plum kuchen, referring to a faded and stained recipe card penned in my high school-era handwriting. Sometimes I mix plums with peaches, other times with apples. Pears can be tucked in as well—especially when seasoned with cardamom or a touch of pepper to bring out their subtle flavor. The kuchen itself is simple: a base of flour, egg yolks, butter, (almond) milk, sugar, salt and baking powder pressed into a Pyrex dish, a layer of tightly packed halved fruit and a crumble topping, all baked until the juices bubble and the kitchen fills with a warm, inviting aroma.
While kuchen is a special treat, it’s also a traditional celebration of the season and the farmers that bring this bounty to market as well as those that nurture backyard and community gardens. Choosing organic flour, sugar, butter, local eggs and Midwest fruit keeps us connected to community. Overripe or slightly bruised fruit works beautifully here, as do plant-based swaps for butter, milk and eggs. Kuchen freezes well and is much easier than canning plum butter!
As school starts and autumn’s rhythm settles in, September reminds us to find our balance. This month, we focus on the theme of Gut Vitality, starting with our feature story, “Balancing the Gut: Investing in Our Inner Ecosystem” by Hannah Tytus. You’ll also find “Sweet and Tart: The Joys of Homemade Fruit Shrubs” by Chloe Karydes Krecun in our Conscious Eating section. We celebrate National Yoga Month with Jordan Peschek’s “Gut Restorative Yoga” and Lisa Faremouth Weber’s “A Fall Equinox Mini Self-Retreat: Autumn Alchemy.” To get us outdoors, Sheryl DeVore’s “Kankakee Sands: A Rare, Post-Glacial Ecosystem Thriving Near Chicago” invites exploration of a local treasure. Bob Benenson rounds out the issue with the latest in local food reporting, connecting us to the markets and farmers that nourish our region.
As always, I invite you to step outside each of September’s 30 days and treasure all the month has to offer. From the autumn equinox and full moon to a bike ride in the park, a walk in a forest preserve, an autumn festival or one of the many expos featured in this issue, may your days be filled with good food, good company and the joy of small seasonal rituals.
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
