Entertaining at your Woodside apartment can seem like a challenge for busy families and working singles, but the amenities at our property make this a cinch.  Labor Day is coming up – join your guests in the pool for a refreshing swim followed by brunch/lunch/dinner at your place!

The heat outside metro Washington DC apartments makes our choice of comestibles crucial. Choose foods that are either cool to begin with, so that they don’t heat up your kitchen or your guests, or foods whose spicing leads to cooling off.

In the chilled category, consider hearty grain salads, made with barley, quinoa, spelt, or farro.  With the addition of beans or cheeses, for example, feta, or mozzarella, these become main dishes.  Display gorgeous cut up vegetables with a dip selection.  Contemplate chilled soups such as gazpacho, or vichyssoise. Scrumptious sandwich platters or seasonally filled quiches are perennial hot weather favorites.

In the cooling column, look to India and Mexico for ideas on spices, especially hot peppers,  that stimulate the body’s own cooling system. Tandoori chicken accompanied by yogurt raitas, or fajitas with  salsa, are examples.

Image via lortonapartments.com