My goal for this year...

I don't know about anyone else... but I get tired of the same old things for dinner.  Any one else that way?  I am always saying that I need something new, something good to help feel in the same old mundane things that I cook for dinner now.
So, my goal for this year.  I want to try something new, something different each week.  A new recipe, a new outlook on my dinner menus for the week.  Can I do it?  Good question, but I am going to try!
Now, I know I am starting this a little late in the year... but I did do something new last week, it just isn't worth posting about.  It definitely isn't a keeper on my menu list!
But, this weeks.... amazing!  Delicious! Wonderful!  Sinful!  Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little bit, but not by much!
Have you ever been to Olive Garden?  I love, love, love Olive Garden... yes, I am country girl, I will fully admit to that.  But, I digress!  I always get the chicken alfredo, or just the alfredo... but I also love just their soup and salad.  And, of course the breadsticks... more on those another week.  The soup I usually get is the zuppa... but recently I tried the Chicken Gnocchi... and I loved it!  This week I was craving that soup, so, I looked it up.  And up came this recipe that said it was even better than the Olive Garden.  Well... it had a quite a few ratings, and they were all 4 or 5 star recipes.  I decided to try it!  And, we loved it!  Hence, the  Amazing, delicious, etc...!
So, here is the recipe or this wonderful soup!  If you are looking for a wonderful creamy soup, you gotta try it!  Oh... to give credit where credit is due, I got this recipe off of Recipezaar and it was submitted by Anne G.

Olive Garden Style Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Serves 8-10(it really does)
35 min/10 minute prep
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups half-and-half (I used Heavy Whipping Cream to make it a little thicker)
1 stalk celery ( I didn't have any celery, and it was still delicious without it!)
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 carrot, shredded
1/2 onion, diced ( I just used onion powder... we aren't big fans of onions)
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped (I used frozen, and only half a cup... half a cup is plenty unless you really love spinach)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme ( I only used half a teaspoon, and that was enough too, just depends on what you like)
salt and pepper to taste
16 ounces potato gnocchi
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional.... I didn't have cornstarch either... geez I need to get to the store.  But, I used 2 tablespoons of flour)

Directions:
1. Saute the onion, celery, garlic, and carrot in oil over medium heat until onion is translucent. (I just used my pot so that I didn't dirty more dishes).
2. Add chicken, chicken stock, half and half, salt and pepper, and thyme.  Heat to boiling, then add gnocchi.  Gently boil for 4 minutes, then turn down to a simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes until spinach is wilted.
4. (Heat to boiling and add cornstarch dissolved in 1-2 tablespoons of water at this point if you want a thicker soup).
5. Ladle into bowls and serve! (We also topped it with a little parmesan cheese... your choice)

So... I completely know that this isn't the most healthy meal in the world, but who cares!  Every once in a while isn't going to hurt anyone!  And, of course... it was delicious!

Let me know what you think if you try it out!  Or, if you have any great and wonderful dishes that you want me to try out... please send them to me!  I really hope to expand my cookbook this year with some great recipes!