This is totally non-obvious, so here goes.
At a shell prompt, run:
$ gnome-desktop-item-edit ~/.local/share/applications/mylauncher.desktop –create-new
Go through the dialog to create the launcher and make sure you give it an easy to remember name. When you’re done, that application should show up under “Applications” in that search thing.
I think that i have done something similar just by using main menu under config as i remember