With warmer spring weather in Missouri, patio season is certainly upon us! 
We love to take advantage of our covered patio & fire pit area during nicer weather. Typically, there is some sort of snack, drink or meal heading outdoors with us! I have a collection of specific serving items that are easy to clean & hold up outdoors (aka they won't break). These are my go-to items when we head outside.

Discount home stores like HomeGoods or Target are great places to find fun patterned, sturdy items. I look for melamine, stainless steel, acrylic or wood materials. I always stock up on seasonal paper napkins & plates to make cleanup a breeze. My absolute must-have for outdoor dining is a tray. I learned this from my mom! You can pile a bunch of items onto the tray for less trips in and out of the house. Trust me.

I've linked a few of my recent favorites below for your next patio outing & some easy patio-worthy recipes.
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Acrylic Wine Glasses (stemless/stem)

Fluted Acrylic Glassware (various colors/sizes) 

Modern Melamine Tray (blue, gray available) 

Modern Melamine Salad Plates (four colors/various sizes) 

Marble Melamine Serving Platter

​Olivewood Charcuterie Board 

Fun Paper Napkins (lemon/orange/palm leaf)

Grab some plastic food baskets (pictured found at Hobby Lobby, similar below), line each basket with parchment paper & let your guests build their tacos! I remember having baskets like this as a kid. It always felt fun to eat in a different way. Perfect for outdoors!
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My go-to shareable appetizer is almost always some sort of dip. I mean who doesn't enjoy a plethora of dip options at a gathering?! For years I have always brought THIS (lightened up) buffalo dip to any social gathering. As amazing as it is, I feel like there's a new dip in town.
One worth a spot at your next taco night, football party, or potluck. When experimenting with one of Trader Joe's new seasoning blends (Everything but the Elote Seasoning) I came up with this Street Corn Dip. *Info below about where to find/how to make this seasoning.

The perfect balance of creamy & stringy cheese....
Tangy lime flavor yet rich...
​Added flavor & texture from fresh spinach & garlic...
Ideal for dipping chips, veggie sticks, or taquitos (!!)...

You can make this delish dip in under 15 minutes to quickly satisfy that snack tooth...that's a thing right? :)

Scroll down for recipe! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@jenkinshouseonthehill) or send me a message if you try this dip. I love seeing you all recreate my recipes! <3

- Info on Everything but the Elote Seasoning that I use from Trader Joes HERE.

- Check your local grocery store spice aisle! They may have a similar version.

- Homemade version HERE.
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- Similar versions can be found on Amazon

*This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a small commission if you shop using one of my links. Thank you for supporting HOTH!

When the weather starts getting cooler we tend to spend more time at home. Less running around in general. For me that means....more time to cook & experiment with food! On the weekends, I like to try out new recipes that I wouldn't have time to make during the week. A dish I recently ate at a restaurant & this blog post had me thinking about a new savory appetizer.

Crostini with ricotta, tomato jam & crispy prosciutto. 

It's seemingly "fancy" but the process is very simple. I used store-bought crostini to save time ( Scharr GF Italian Crostini) but you could easily make your own by crisping up some bread. The tomato jam for the crostini bites takes time to cook down. But the ingredients come together very quickly & it requires little intervention. The prosciutto can be crisped up in just a few minutes in the oven. After that, it's time to layer!

​​Make this for some friends or your partner & watch for that "impressive" look!

How perfect are these appetizer plates for this savory bite?? I'm picturing many desserts, snacks & appetizers served on these classic white plates. These affordable plates have a timeless look that won't go out of style. Plus they're low maintenance: chip & scratch resistant, dishwasher - microwave - oven - freezer safe.

Shop my appetizer plates by clicking the image below!
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The summer flavors of juicy ripe fruit & fresh garden vegetables always find their way into my cooking during the warmer months. I find joy in creating different ways to incorporate an ingredient. So, when I got my hands on the first peaches of summer I knew it had to be salsa. Nothing says patio weather like chips & salsa!

THIS ISN'T YOUR TYPICAL SWEET STORE-BOUGHT SALSA.
Imagine the perfect balance between sweet & savory. This peach salsa will keep you coming back all summer long! Super easy to whip up for a fresh snack or to top your favorite protein. If you're sharing with friends (how nice of you!) just add a bag of chips & you're ready to relax.

I personally can't wait to make this again. I see a juicy piece of grilled salmon with this salsa drizzled all over it in my future! Or maybe some chili lime chicken skewers. . .