Chicken Gnocchi Soup

It is soup season and my husbands favorite soup that I make is a copy cat of Olive Gardens Chicken Gnocchi Soup. He will eat a whole pot in a day if I would let him. I have had a lot of my friends ask me how I make it. Today I decided to be formal and write it out for you all to enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 Stick of Butter

1 Tablespoons olive oil

1 Onion, diced

3 Carrots, shredded

3 Celery, diced

4 Tablespoons Garlic

coarse salt and fresh black pepper

3 Tablespoon all-purpose Flour

48 oz Chicken Broth

1 Pint half & half

3 Chicken breast pre cooked, cut into small bites

1 Package of Gnocchi

I bag of fresh baby spinach, chopped

1 Tablespoon Basil to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large soup pot heat the butter and oil together over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and basil. Cook until tender over medium-low heat about 10 minutes, stirring often.
2. Sprinkle the flour into the pot and stir into the vegetables, stirring often till into a paste. Stir in the half and half 1 cup at a time, followed by the chicken stock.
3. Add the cooked chicken. Bring up to a simmer and maintain for 20 minutes stirring often. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the Gnocchi. Still occasionally. The Gnocchi will float to the top when cooked. Follow with the fresh spinach. The spinach will also cook its self.
5. Serve with bread, enjoy!