Your September Horoscope Is a Peak Late-Summer Recipe
Summer is almost over, and that means HARVEST TIME! Your horoscope is here to help unpack that oversize haul from the farmers market. We’ve got a recipe for every sign, yes, aaand what you can expect for this year’s Mars retrograde, beginning September 9.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Emily Eisen1/12Aries: Grilled Pork Chops With Plums
Feeling a little irritable these days, Aries? Stalling out? Mars retrograde in your sign is to blame for this September angst. But you’ll soon discover how to make this extra ammunition work for you (not against you). You’ll be working on yourself this month. Start by upgrading your dinner game with Grilled Pork Chops With Plums, Halloumi, and Lemon. With an abundance of char, even on the cheese and plums, this recipe channels the heat in all the right ways.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Claire Saffitz2/12Taurus: Baked Cinnamon Toast With Stone Fruit
Sweet Taurus, with Mars retrograde in your 12th house, it might seem like people are blowing up at you in ways you don’t deserve. Don’t take anything too personally. Overcompensate for an uptight world by loosening up—and baking. Use summer’s last plums to make this Baked Cinnamon Toast With Fruit, in which caramelized stone fruit and berries hide beneath thick slices of golden brioche. Sweet on the inside, lovable on the outside, just like you.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Stockwell3/12Gemini: Crispy Fish and Kohlrabi
Is there a certain someone disrupting the peace in your life? A lazy coworker, a buzzkill neighbor, or an antagonistic friend? Be patient with them, Gemini. Your communication skills can come in handy this month as you try to get through to this person. Whatever you do, don’t take it home with you. Instead, take home some kohlrabi from the farmers market for this Crispy Fish With Brown Butter Sauce and Kohlrabi Salad. Your brilliant mind always finds creative ways to harmonize the unexpected.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marc Williams4/12Cancer: Eggplant Parm
Expect a few professional curveballs this month—sorry. You’ll be reminded that sometimes you need to take a few steps backward to move forward. You’ll be learning (and unlearning) a lot of new processes that will hopefully pay off in the long run. And so you’ll need some comfort food, obviously: BA's Best Eggplant Parmesan. It’s better to have steam coming out of your baking dish than out of your ears.
Photo by Laura Murray, styling by Judy Mancini5/12Leo: Tomato Pie
Be open this month, Leo. You’re very opinionated, but leave some room to be proven wrong about any and everything, like the benefits of skydiving. Then leave some room for an entire Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie. Its salty cracker crust, garlicky white sauce, and peak tomatoes make it inarguably delicious. Glad we could agree on something.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Emily Eisen6/12Virgo: Panna Cotta With Nectarines
Happy birthday, meticulous Virgo! As the wheel turns and you begin a new year, you’ll also be saying some goodbyes—to toxic people, a sh*tty job, or a stained sweater. We can’t predict that specifically. Just try not to feel too overwhelmed by any tough decisions. Take your sweet time. And be sweet to yourself with this jiggly Ricotta Panna Cotta With Nectarines, made with juicy summer stone fruit and enough gelatin to help you keep it together this month.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Molly Baz7/12Libra: Seared Scallops and Corn
We can count on you to be kind and accommodating, Libra, but, uh, maybe not this month. People are pushing your buttons and instead of playing the peacemaker, you’re ready to push back. Now’s your chance to be more direct than ever. Isn’t that refreshing? Since you’re going bold this month, fry up these Pan-Seared Scallops With Chorizo and Corn, just the recipe you need to feel more comfortable being spicy.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Claire Saffitz8/12Scorpio: Slow-Cooked Cherry Tomatoes
We know you, extreme Scorpio. You’re fully capable of burning the candle at both ends. And you have been going overboard lately, whether at work or in the comments on Nextdoor. This month, slooww it dowwnn. It’s time to scale back your routine or risk burnout. Here’s a dish to remind you that good things can happen at a slower pace: Slow-Cooked Cherry Tomatoes With Coriander and Rosemary.
Christopher Testani9/12Sagittarius: Zucchini Fritters
Have you been taking things a little too seriously lately, Sag? With Mars retrograde in your 5th house, it’s time for you to reconnect with your creative passions. Restring that ukulele or rewrap your crystal pendants. Don’t overcommit your time to others, and leave room for spontaneous play. Like with zucchini! Make these crispy Zucchini Herb Fritters With Garlic Yogurt and then eat them with your hands.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson10/12Capricorn: Steak With Blistered Beans
House projects you thought you could DIY are now suddenly turning into DI-WHY did I think I could do this alone? Time to take a pause and rework your game plan. In general it’s a good month to sit back and plan. Instead of setting your off-kilter coffee table on fire, throw this steak on the grill: Strip Steak With Blistered Beans and Tomatoes. You’ll feel accomplished after this one, Cap.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen11/12Aquarius: Eggplant Frittata
Is it that time again for a social media cleanse? Being a social creature, you dread the inevitable FOMO, but it seems like all everyone does these days is argue. It will be worth your peace of mind to take a break this month. Use your extra free time—so many hours!–to cook recipes you’ve never made before, like this Eggplant and Cabbage Dinner Frittata. As the saying goes (pretty sure), when you feel like flipping out, flip a frittata.
Photo by Elizabeth Cecil12/12Pisces: Eggplant With Cashew Butter
This month it’s all about the money. And you’ve got big wishes for where you see yourself in five years. Time to put your head down and hustle. We all know you can do it. The more aligned you feel with your income source, the happier you’ll be. There will be some creases to smooth out, that’s inevitable. Pick up some late-summer eggplant and make this Eggplant With Cashew Butter and Pickled Peppers. Its nutty, briny, and herbaceous notes complement eggplant like a dream. And it’s a good month for dreaming.
Catherine Urban is an astrologer in Cleveland, where she teaches, consults, and writes about all things astrology. She is the author of Your Astrological Cookbook: The Perfect Recipe for Every Sign. Connect on IG @astrocatherine or visit www.catherineurban.com
