Aaron enjoying the soup
I can’t believe I’ve never posted this recipe before. It’s a family favorite, especially in winter when it’s cold, and one of the few things I can make where the whole family eats the same thing. The original recipe calls for all dairy liquids with milk and cream. Since my oldest son and I are lactose intolerant, I have adapted the recipe to be more friendly for our bellies. This is our version, and it’s ever bit as yummy as that restaurant version you may know and love. *A note on the vegetables in this soup, I add as many as I think I can get away with since this is the ONLY way my kids will touch any of these vegetables. They eat them all up in this soup, so I put in as many as I can. Feel free to adjust amounts for your family. I also used Weis Markets brand carrots and baby spinach in this recipe.
Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Ingredients:
1lb chicken
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons flour
1 carrot – grated
1 cup finely julienned baby spinach
1 stalk of celery
2 Tablespoons garlic powder (I don’t usually have fresh on hand)
1 – 32oz box of chicken stock or broth**
1 package of mini gnocchi (regular size work fine too)
splash of cream
salt
pepper
parmesan cheese
Ingredients according to original recipe. I changed the liquids as I was cooking. The carrots and spinach are Weis brand, and were yummy in the soup.
Directions:
1. Heat oil in the pot you make your soups in over medium high heat. I use a dutch oven.
2. While your oil is heating, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces, and season with salt and pepper.
3. After the chicken is browned, toss in the celery to soften slightly. Add garlic powder.
4. Add the flour and stir in thoroughly. This is what will thicken your soup, so add more or less to soak up your fats as needed.
5. Pour in the chicken stock or broth. Stir, making sure to incorporate all of the flour. Bring up to a simmer.
6. Add carrots and spinach. You can reserve some of the spinach for the end if you also like a fresher taste.
7. Simmer about 10 minutes. Add the gnocchi after about 6-7 minutes.
8. Add a splash of cream to bring it all together and make a creamy soup if you wish. Also add any remaining spinach at this time. Simmer just a minute or so.
9. Serve and top with parmesan cheese if desired.
**The original recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups whole milk, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, and 3 chicken bouillon cubes if you’d prefer it that way. Just add these instead of the box of stock or broth.
***This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own. See my picture story on Google+.
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That sounds delicious. We all love the chicken and gnocchi soup from Olive Garden, so I should try to make it home!
Shelly´s last [type] ..The Laundry Fight
I think you’d find this recipe pretty similar.
Sounds so so good. I found a copycat recipe for the Olive Garden recipe and put it up a while ago. We eat it every once in a while and it is so so good.
Kathleen´s last [type] ..My Top 25 Resolutions for the New Year – Monday Mojo
This started as a copycat recipe, and then I tweaked it because of those of us in the house who are lactose intolerant.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMM I adore gnocchi! It’s one of my faves but I’ve never had it in soup before….will have to try this!
Heather´s last [type] ..At Least there was a Bacon Wrapped Bright Side
It’s a great way to get the kids to eat spinach. My boys are very picky eaters, so any way I can get veggies in them is fabulous.
After having my second child I can no longer tolerate lactose. I love finding new recipes that have milk replacement. You could also try cashew cream. Its pretty tasty in some dishes but not all. I use it in place of sour cream on my baked potato.
I’d love to try cashew cream, but because of Aaron’s nut allergy, I can’t use any nut products in foods he eats.
I’m sorry, I know the soup is delicious and your Arron may truely be enjoying it, but that is NOT the face a kid makes when he is enjoying something! THAT is the face they make when you are forcing them to try something new or take another bite of something when they just really don’t want to! LOL, you might want to post a different photo to get your point across !!
Margie, Aaron is autistic. When asked to smile for the camera, this is the face I would often get at this stage in his development. So yes, he is enjoying the soup, and no, it’s not a new food. He had the soup several times before I posted this recipe, but thank you for your concern.
My son makes the same expression when asked to smile! He is autistic, too. When I saw Aaron’s face, I thought, ‘aww, he really likes it!’ I would love my son to eat something like this soup and look so happy about it!
This recipe sounds so delicious, Amanda, thanks for posting it!
I actually think Aaron looks thrilled to be eating the soup. Margie, you might want to think of posting a different comment that is NOT criticizing a child’s facial expression.
Anne Spence´s last [type] ..My Dear, Sweet Easton
Good answer, Amanda. Unless my autistic son were in some blissful taste-bud Nirvana, you would either guess he isn’t enjoying his food, or that eating is a chore because it’s taking time away from playing.
My autistic daughter makes a similar face when asked to smile for the camera. I call it her “scrunchy, cheese face.” It usually makes her look constipated and in pain. I totally get how someone might mistake it for not being a happy face, however, I would hope that that person would have the decency to find out the whole story before passing judgement on a child, but sadly, that is rarely the case.
I think Aaron looks adorable!
He looks happy to me!
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Lily has facial tics. Trying to catch her “smile” is like catching lightning in a bottle. She’s Lily though, whether she’s grimacing or smiling, and if the fact that he’s holding the spoon and not flinging it, and the bowl of soup across the room is anything like Lily’s version of “I wike dis” then he really truly DOES like it.
Jim W.´s last [type] ..The Thing in My Basement