Labor Day Ease

Invite the whole crew over for Labor Day but don’t sweat it! Here are 3 easy recipes your company will love! Bon Appétit!

Company Chicken Salad

2 ½ cups diced chicken breast (~4 breasts)

1 cup celery, chopped fine

2 cups chops red grapes

2 Tablespoons minced parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup Mayonnaise

¾ cup heavy cream, whipped

Combine all ingredients. Let salad sit in refrigerator for at least 8 hours before serving.

Creamy Pimento Cheese

1 (8 oz). package cream cheese, softened

2 cups shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese (I shred my own. The packaged kind is not as good in this recipe.)

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 pinch of garlic powder

1 (4oz) jar diced pimento, drained

Dash cayenne pepper or to taste

¼ cup finely chopped toasted pecans

¼ cup finely chopped black olives

Blend the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add Cheddar cheese and continue beating until light and fluffy. Beat in mayonnaise, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir in pimento, pecans, and olives. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Lemon Dream Cake

1 box Duncan Hines French Vanilla Cake Mix

1 (15.75 oz) can lemon pie filling

1 tub lemon flavored frosting

1 (8oz) tub cool whip, thawed

Mix cake mix according to package directions. Pour into prepared pan. Dollop the lemon pie filling over the cake batter. With a knife, swirl lemon pie filling throughout batter evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Mix frosting and thawed cool whip. Put frosting in refrigerator until finished cake has completely cooled then frost.  Store cake in refrigerator, covered, until ready to use.