Chicken Gnocchi Soup

I've been in a rut lately, making the same thing, same thing, same thing.  So I went to the grocery store to stock up on the same thing, same thing.... and came across 'mini potato gnocchi'.  I thought.... anything with the word 'mini' in it just sounds adorable!  Plus I've seen gnocchi used many times on all my favorite cooking shows, so I figured - "I must buy this!"

I got home.... and it sits in my cupboard for almost 2 weeks before I decide to research on google and pinterest about this stuff called gnocchi.  I found some interesting and complicated recipes and some recipes on how to make homemade gnocchi.  Since it was cold, drizzling rain and miserable outside I thought a soup would be wonderful.  I then came across this recipe for duplicating Olive Gardens Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

http://passthesushi.com/quick-dinner-fixins-olive-garden-chicken-gnocchi-soup/

I had all the stuff to make it - I made a few alterations to it and it turned out wonderful!!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chicken breasts, diced and cooked 
• 6 Tbsp butter
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 quart half and half 
• 1 14 ounce can chicken broth
• 1 Cup of white wine
• 1/2 cup celery, sliced
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup carrots, shredded
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• sprinkles of ground nutmeg
• sprinkles of paprika
• salt and pepper to taste
• 16 ounce package of mini potato gnocchi

Directions:

In a large stockpot, saute the onion, celery and garlic in the butter and olive oil. When the onion is clear, add the flour and form a roux. Stir and cook a minute. Add the half and half . Meanwhile in another pan, cook the gnocchi. Add the carrots and chicken to the stockpot. Stir often and when it gets thicker, add the chicken broth, white wine, gnocchi, spinach and seasonings. Cover and heat through.


I made garlic cheese bread with a discounted Italian loaf I got from a local bakery, for 70 CENTS!!  

Oh, blurry photos are such a pity!!

Wow, this was an amazing soup and turned out great for a first time recipe.... with this little thing called gnocchi.