Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Rice

An Arctic blast hovers over the state of Minnesota. In Hackensack, the next four nights predicted lows are -14, -18, -21, and -21!! Green Valley, AZ is certainly not that cold, but many nights have overnight lows under 30.  

I do declare we all need a soul-warming and satisfying bowl of soup. It's true comfort with a bowl loaded with creamy broth, fresh veggies, lean protein, rice, and soft pillowy gnocchi. Every bite of deliciousness will warm you up.  

New Recipe from Ever Ready 

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup with Rice is perfect for lunch or evening meals. The recipe was adapted from cremedelacrumb.com and loosely based on the copycat version from the Olive Garden Restaurant. The recipe serves 4-6, depending on the bowl size. 

Note: I did not have one of the ingredients, baby spinach leaves, on hand when making the recipe. It's missing from the photo but should be included in the ingredient list.   

Ingredients: 

• 2-3 cups cooked chopped chicken ( I used a roasted chicken from the deli) 
• 1/2 cup each celery, sweet onions, shredded carrots 
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• Salt and pepper - to taste
• 1 teaspoon each thyme and parsley flakes 
• 2 cups dried potato gnocchi, halved
• 1/3 cup jasmine rice, uncooked
• 1 cup half and half 
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach, stems removed 
• 2 bay leaves

Directions: 

• Roughly shred carrots in Cuisinart ( do not mince them)_ 
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add celery, onions, garlic, carrots and saute for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent.
• Add chicken, chicken broth, salt, pepper, rice, bay leaves, thyme and parsley flakes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 12 minutes covered. Add in gnocchi, half and half, and spinach. Cook for a few minutes more, uncovered, until spinach is wilted. Taste, add salt and pepper if needed. Remove bay leaves and serve.

Cook's Notes: Every time I make chicken soup, I think of Maurice Sendak's little book Chicken Soup with Rice. 

This tiny volume was first published in 1962. The book has 12 rhymes and illustrations for 12 months of the year all with chicken soup as the universal theme. The rhythmic verses and repetition make the book perfect for ages 4-6. Each page ends...Happy once, happy twice, happy chicken soup with rice.