A Cozy Fall Recipe & Tucson Real Estate Insight for the Holidays

November is here—and with it comes cooler mornings, golden desert sunsets, and the slow slide into holiday season. It’s the perfect time to savor the warmth of home, cook something cozy, and take a beat before the December rush.

This month, I’m sharing a comforting, Tucson-inspired recipe: Butternut Squash and Chile Empanadas. They're super yummy. My Mom made these for a get together with friends and had some leftovers I dug into. While reheating them in the Air-fryer I learned that they cook to perfect temperature while listening (and serenading my cats) to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Butternut Squash and Chile Empanadas

Ingredients:

• 12 Empanada discos – Homemade or store bought

• 1 Large Butternut Squash cut in 1-inch cubes

• 1 small onion – diced

• A few cloves of garlic, chopped

• 1 jalapeño – sliced and seeded

• 1 7- oz can diced poblano peppers

• Chili powder, Cumin, salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Either roast with olive oil, salt and pepper at 400° for 30 minutes or until soft.

   Or

   Place cubed squash in saucepan with enough water to cover. Add sliced jalapeño and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer for 40 minutes or until soft. Cool. Remove jalapeño.

2. While squash cools, sauté diced onion and chopped garlic with cumin and chili powder.

3. When squash is cool, mash until smooth. Add onion, garlic and poblano peppers.

4. Season to taste.

5. Place discos on cutting board. Spoon about 1 to 1 1/2 butternut squash mixture into center of each disco. Fold and seal each disco. Crimp edges into small pleats. Paint empanadas

   with beaten egg white to edges.

6. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and place about an inch apart. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes until golden brown and the dough is firm to touch.

7. Serve plain or with salsa.

Real Estate Insight:

Heading into the holidays, Tucson's market typically slows just a bit—but that’s good news for serious buyers and sellers. There's less competition, and motivated sellers may be more open to negotiation.

If you're considering a move before the new year, or want to position yourself for success in 2026, this is a smart time to strategize. I’d love to help with a market analysis or personalized plan— let’s talk turkey (or tacos).