Guest Author - Jenny Derden

It’s Only Lunch

You looked at your calendar and discovered that today was Bunco Game day---at YOUR house. Panic set in as you wondered what to serve. Take a deep breath. Remember, you are not preparing for a formal dinner. Time is on your side as these recipes are all quick and easy.

Chicken Salad
Difficulty: Easy
2 eggs
3 ½ cups of diced cooked chicken
1 cup finely diced celery
½ cup of mayonnaise
1 tsp. garlic powder
Crisp lettuce leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil 2 eggs, peel and chop.
In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, chicken, celery, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Chill. Serve on crisp lettuce leaves.


Pimiento Cheese
Difficulty: Easy

8 oz. of medium cheddar cheese
1 small jar of pimientos
½ cup of mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
Assorted crackers

Grate the cheddar cheese and place in a medium sized bowl.
To that, add 1 small jar of pimientos, ½ cup of mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon of dill pickle juice. Depending on how creamy you want it, add to or subtract from the mayonnaise measurement.
Chill and serve with assorted crackers.


Ham and Cheese Roll-ups
Difficulty: Easy

1 package of smoked ham luncheon meat (the longer slices)
1 large package of cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

Combine cream cheese and fresh chives (fresh if possible).
Spread the cheese mixture on your ham slices and roll up.
Slice the ham 4 times like you were slicing a cigar.
Place a toothpick in the roll up and plate them.


When you visit Dallas, seldom would you miss a trip to walk through Neiman Marcus if only once. Neiman’s is a delectable department store as is it’s famous bar cookies. Neiman Marcus Bar Cookies normally call for ½ cup of chopped nuts, however, Bettye simplified the recipe, making it her own.

Bettye Irene’s Neiman Marcus Bars
Difficulty: Easy

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter
Mix and press into a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Mix the following together and pour over cake mixture in pan:
8 oz. cream cheese
2 eggs
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flaked coconut
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool and then cut into bars.

Serve Rasberry Iced Tea for a little something different.

This lunch is perfect for a buffet styled event or placed on your bar for easy serving.