Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Okay, so it took me all week, but here is the recipe (with pictures) of the Chicken Gnocchi soup that my dad and I made last weekend. It was so much cooking with my dad! I had a ton of fun. Plus it was fun watching Gabby making bread crumbs with my mom (Has NOTHING to do with the soup, so don't worry).  For those that know me, I am not usually a soup person. The only soup that I ever eat is my mom's homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. I love the wide noodles she uses, and the love that goes into it.

Some of the ingredients - Gnocchi, cut so there is more pieces, Garlic puree and diced yellow onions

So when I went to my parents last weekend with Gabby and my dad said he was going to make this soup, I was a little skeptical that I was going to like it, let alone love making it. Oh how did I change. It is a wonderful soup and pretty darn easy to make. But I will say those that know me know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Olive Garden, and that's where this recipe came from.

Here are the ingredients for the soup:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons extra virgin oil
  
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 quart half and half
• 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
  
• 1 cup onion, finely diced
  
• 2 minced garlic cloves
  
• 2 14 ounce cans of chicken broth if you enjoy thick soup, use one can
  
• 1 cup carrots, finely shredded
  
• 1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
  
• 1 package gnocchi, cooked  (you may want to cut the gnocchi in half if it is large)
  
• 1 cup of fresh spinach coarsely chopped
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley
  
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent.

Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.

Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

Into the roux, add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick, add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning; simmer until soup is heated through.  Before serving season to taste by adding additional salt.

One thing I do recommend is having everything prepped before starting, there is a bit of chopping, dicing and things and its easier to have it all ready to go.

Its a great soup and I can't wait to make it again. Also for those heat lovers out there, my husband added in some Tabasco sauce to give it a little kick.  Another note, this can be frozen as well and still tastes wonderful. Enjoy!