Random Question Of The Day **2-17-12**

[4kidz916]

Do you like copy cat recipes from your favorite restaurants?  We rarely eat out so I've been finding some of the copy cat recipes online and we're going to start "eating out" at home.  I love soups from Olive Garden so this is the first copy cat meal we're going to have.  Please feel free to share any copy cat recipes you use or would like to try.   This one is from copykat.com.

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Author: CopyKat Recipes

Recipe Type: Soup

Serves: 8

You can make Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi soup just like the Olive Garden does. Just a few ingredients and you can enjoy this famous soup at home.

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
• 
  
• 1 cup carrots, finely shredded
• 1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
• 
  
• 1 package gnocchi, cooked  (you can find these in gourmet/pasta section of the grocery store - you may want to cut the gnocchi in half if it is large, or purchase the mini size if available)
• 
  
• 1 cup of fresh spinach coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 
  
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

1. 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.
2. Cook gnocchi according to package directions.
3. 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.

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[bcharadva]

Surprisingly I have all the ingredients for this soup... This definitely sounds delicious and I will be making it tomorrow for sure!!! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!

[DanielleK21]

 I do when I can find a good one. Some of them are horrible. I really want to find Subways Chipolte sauce. Ive made a few but none of those were even close... Or Im just a really bad critic cause I worked there for 4 years. LOL

[1busymomma03]

I haven't tried any copy cat recipes, but I have looked at some online before. I really would love to try some though. Hopefully some one has some good ones to share with us. LOL. I won't have a lot of time online today (my DS's birthday party sleepover is tonight so I'm getting ready for that =) ), so I can't search for  any myself.

[MistressMinerva]

I haven't found any recipes from any of my favorite restaurants to make yet.

[4kidz916]

You're welcome.  Let us know what you think of it.

Quoting bcharadva:

Surprisingly I have all the ingredients for this soup... This definitely sounds delicious and I will be making it tomorrow for sure!!! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!

[4kidz916]

Have fun with the sleepover.

Quoting 1busymomma03:

I haven't tried any copy cat recipes, but I have looked at some online before. I really would love to try some though. Hopefully some one has some good ones to share with us. LOL. I won't have a lot of time online today (my DS's birthday party sleepover is tonight so I'm getting ready for that =) ), so I can't search for  any myself.

[Maries_Mom23]

I don't think I've ever tried any. I need to though. We don't go out that often. Costs an arm and a leg to do so!

[4kidz916]

The expense is exactly why we don't eat out.  So I've figured that maybe every Saturday night we can have a nice restaurant meal at home.  The kids are excited about it.

Quoting Maries_Mom23:

I don't think I've ever tried any. I need to though. We don't go out that often. Costs an arm and a leg to do so!

[melaniecerise]

I look up recipes from restaurants that I like. I actually copied the recipe for the salad dressing from olive garden. it tasted just like it

[4kidz916]

I'm glad to hear that review.  I had printed that one and have been meaning to try it. 

Quoting melaniecerise:

I look up recipes from restaurants that I like. I actually copied the recipe for the salad dressing from olive garden. it tasted just like it