CHICKEN AND GNOCCHI SOUP

This is similar to the Chicken and Gnocchi Soup at Olive Garden. This soup is AMAZING! If you can't find gnocchi it's ok to make without it.

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
1 14 ounce can chicken broth
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1 pound potato gnocchi – can buy this in the gourmet section of many supermarkets

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter, when 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.

2. Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

3. Into the roux add in the carrots, celery, and chicken, bring soup to a boil to thicken. Once it boils add the chicken broth and bring to a boil again. Add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings and serve!