Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Copycat Olive Garden's)

This recipe claims to copycat Olive Garden's Chicken Gnocchi Soup.  I've only had Olive Garden's once, so I don't know, but I do know it's delicious.  It's full of vegetables and it's creamy and delicious.  You can find potato gnocchi in the pasta section of your grocery store.

Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Copycat Olive Garden)
4 small chicken breasts, cooked and cut up
4 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon (or so) olive oil
1/4 cup flour
1 quart half and half
2 cups chicken stock or chicken broth
1 cup finely chopped celery (use some of the leafy greens- they add a lot of flavor)
2 cloves garlic, minced  or crushed
1/2 cup finely shredded carrots (grate on the smallest holes on your grater)
1 onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Sprinkle of dried parsley
1 - 14 oz.(or so) package potato gnocchi
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese for garnish (fresh grated is best!)

In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil and melt the butter.  Add the celery, onion, carrots, and garlic.  Saute until the onions are translucent and celery softened.  Add the flour and cook and stir for several minutes.   Add the half and half and cook and stir for a couple of minutes.  Then add the chicken and continue cooking until the mixture is thickened.  Add the chicken stock and cook until thick again.  When thickened, add the gnocchi, thyme, parsley, and spinach.  Simmer until the gnocchi is cooked through.  It only takes 7-10 minutes.  Then add salt and pepper and taste to correct seasonings.   When serving, grate parmesan cheese over each bowl.

The grated carrots make it such a pretty, orange color!