Welcome Soup Season With A New Copycat Recipe

 How has your September been going? It's been so busy around here, the month kind of flashed before my eyes. We celebrated an 18th birthday, our first school-related illness resulting in the little guy missing two days, attended our homecoming football game, took Max's very first field trip to an apple orchard (which Bubbie took the day off school to join us), I went to my first PTL (think PTA) meeting, and more I can't even remember right now. You can understand why I blinked and now it's almost October. 

When does soup season begin in your house? For us, the minute Labor Day was over, I started putting more soups on our weekly menu. Even though we had some summer-like hot days, it was time! Now that the temps have indeed fallen to more autumn like highs, and October knocking on the door, I'm sure more families are ready to celebrate all things soup, chowder and stew. 

I'm sure this will be the first of many new soup recipes over the next several months, as we enter into even colder weather, but I wanted this to be the debut because it has quickly become one of our favorites.

A copycat of an Olive Garden classic, this Chicken Gnocchi Soup can be on your table in about 30 minutes! Perfect during the crazy busy week when you're exhausted and just need to eat before heading out the door again. 

Let's stop here for a minute and talk about the chicken in this soup. I can't believe the price of fresh chicken these days at the store, so I decided to use canned instead. Leftover rotisserie or roasted would be great too, but I didn't have any on hand, and didn't want to spend the $$$ on a package of boneless breasts. Sure, canned chicken won't work in certain recipes that call for cooked chicken, but I have found that in many soups, it's perfect and much easier on the budget. 

This creamy, hearty soup will fill you up and thaw you out at the same time. It is filled with so much flavor, it tastes like it cooked all day, and not quickly on the stove top. Add a big bowl of copycat Olive Garden Salad and you have a complete meal; and don't forget some crusty bread too! 

However you decide to welcome fall, and with it, soup season, I hope you're finding ways to put some fun into your busy days and yummy things to come home to after!

 

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup

2 (12 oz.) cans chicken, drained and broken up

1 (16 oz.) package gnocchi

1 TBS olive oil

1/4 cup butter

1 quart half-and-half

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup flour

1 cup matchstick carrots, rough chopped

2 stalks celery, diced

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

1 heaping cup spinach, rough chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp dried thyme

Salt and pepper  

In a large pot, melt butter with olive oil over medium high heat. Sauté onion, celery and garlic for 5 minutes until soft. Sprinkle with flour and cook 1-2 minutes more. Whisk in half-and-half and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Whisk in chicken broth and simmer 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add carrots, chicken, thyme, parsley, and gnocchi. Simmer until gnocchi float to the top. Season with salt and pepper. Add spinach and cook 5-10 minutes to heat through. Serve immediately. 

 

Holiday Casseroles

 I realize we haven't even reached the end of October yet, and everyone has pumpkins, ghosts, vampires and candy on the brain, but my brain has moved on. Sure I'm still celebrating all things Halloween this week, but the inner planner in me is thinking ahead to the holiday rush that is about to descend down up on us. 

I have always said that once we get down trick or treating, and the calendar flips to November 1st, it's a downhill coast, a very fast one, to Happy New Year. The weeks of leading up to Thanksgiving and then Christmas seem to go at supersonic speed. With so much to do, so many fun things to plan, so much good food to eat, so many loved ones to hug...it can be a blur. 

I know most people's brains don't work this way, so planning so far ahead isn't always an option, so let me do it for you! 

When I first made this casserole for a weeknight meal, it was perfect because it came together pretty quickly. But it got me thinking of two things. First, those house guests who will be at your table needing fed beyond the big holiday meal (this image always makes me think of Cousin Eddie's family in Christmas Vacation who come to stay for a month!). Second, as much as we love all those dishes we look forward to this time of year, how we can get burnt out too, since there are so many turkey and ham leftovers to enjoy before you are ready for something completely different. 

This baked gnocchi has the familiar flavors of spinach and artichoke dip, but in a simple, hearty casserole perfect for a crowd! 

Let's talk gnocchi for a minute. My 5 year old always says "Oh these are those little potato dumplings that taste like pasta!" I think that's a great way to describe it. No, they don't really taste like pasta, but they have a similar texture, are boiled in water and work in many of the same dishes, so I can totally see why he thinks that way. 

Whether you're looking for a simple weeknight meal for your family, or something you can serve to that family that might be hanging out from the turkey to the yule log, this gnocchi bake is sure to be a hit. Planning ahead, even if just a little, can really cut down on the stress the holidays seem to bring...take it from me!

 Spinach and Artichoke Gnocchi Bake

2 (1lb.) packages gnocchi

6 oz. baby spinach

1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 yellow onion, finely chopped 

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup heavy cream

2 TBS olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

1/2-1 tsp. dried red pepper

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Cook gnocchi in boiling water according to package directions. In a large skillet over medium saute onion in oil until soft. Add spinach and garlic and saute until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Add oregano and red pepper. Stir well. Pour in cream and lemon juice. Stir. Add artichokes. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper. When gnocchi is cooked, drain well. Add to sauce. Stir well to combine. Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with mozzarella and cook for 10-15 minutes or browned and bubbly.

 

Inspired by Simply Delicious

Gnocchi Fans

Anyone that knows us knows we are a family of pasta lovers. From mac n cheese to baked pasta casseroles, we can't get enough. I think I might have been Italian in another life.

And now I can honestly say, we are quickly becoming fanatics about pasta's little cousin gnocchi. I've mentioned before how my local Dollar Tree store has really decent packages of them, 1 pound for $1. What a deal...and you know I can't pass that up! So on those weeks when the budget might be a little tighter than normal, I like to keep those little gems in my back pocket!

This actually came to be because of another great deal when Kroger had spaghetti sauce dirt cheap. I actually bought a couple jars and then had to think "great, now what can I do with it?" Well, I had to run into DT anyway, so why not grab a couple packages of my new friend?

If you're looking for an economical, hearty, feed a hungry crowd meal, this is it! Terrific Italian flavors with soft, pillowy gnocchi are sure to please every single time!

Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole

2 lbs. gnocchi, cooked to package directions & drained

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

3/4 c. heavy cream

2 (24 oz.) jars spaghetti sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Dried Parsley

Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet heat 1 1/2 jars sauce over medium heat. (Save other half jar for other use) Add cream, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Heat until bubbling and reduce heat to low. When gnocchi are cooked and drained, add to sauce and stir to combine. Grease 9x13 baking dish. Add half gnocchi mixture. Sprinkle with 2 TBS Parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat layers once more. Sprinkle top with parsley. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving. *NOTE* This does not set up like a normal pasta bake. It will be very saucy. I do this because gnocchi can be very dense and dry. They need extra sauce! 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Dollar Store Delight

A couple weeks back there was a convo on Facebook about buying food at Dollar Tree and how 99% of what they sell is pre-packaged, processed junk. Now, I will no dispute that much of it is exactly that, but I also know there are some things I can find at me that not only are exactly what I would find at my major super market, but a whole lot cheaper, helping me stay on budget.

One of the things I mentioned in the thread was gnocchi. I discovered my local Dollar Trees (yes, we have 4 within just minutes of our house) carry 1 lb. packages of gnocchi. They are a fine quality, and taste the same as the $4 packs I can find elsewhere. I can honestly say every single gnocchi recipe you can find on this blog was made with $1 gnocchi.

So the next time I was in there I decided to create a new recipe around those; and see what else I could find too. In this recipe alone, the gnocchi, Italian seasoning, and pepperoni came from DT. I would have been able to get the marinara sauce there too, they just happened to be out of it the day I went. But...and here is the funny part...I got the sauce at Kroger...for $1 and the 2 cans of mushrooms at Aldi for $1 total. The only thing in the recipe that cost me more than a buck was the bag of mozzarella cheese, and I actually had a coupon for that too!

I guess this is my point. Do I want my family eating cheap, processed food every night of the week? Absolutely not. But there are some things to be found at the dollar store that you can turn into something delicious, yummy and stay on a pretty strict budget. This casserole fed our family of 4 (and I've got big eaters) plus enough for a lunch the next day, for around $7. That is less than $2 per person!

In my opinion, there just needs to be less judgment all around when it comes to where we buy our food, and what we are buying. We all do what we can, in the way we can, and I refuse to turn my nose up at something just because it came from a discount store! After all, look what you can do with it!

Pizza Gnocchi Bake

2 (1 lb.) packages potato gnocchi, cooked to directions

1 (24 oz.) jar marinara sauce

2 (4 oz.) cans mushrooms

1 (4 oz.) package pepperoni, chopped, reserve a few whole for top

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Italian Seasoning

Preheat oven to 400. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. When gnocchi are cooked, drain and return to warm pan. Add chopped pepperoni, mushrooms, sauce and 1 cup cheese. Stir well to combine. Transfer to baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheese, top with pepperoni slices, sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Bake for 10 minutes more until cheese melted and bubbly. Rest for 5 minutes before serving. 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Meatballs Made Easy with Aidells®

I was recently asked by  Aidells® to create a recipe and share their product using it.

As a busy mom, I know how hard it is to find the time to put good food on the table...fast. We all want to feel good about the meals we give our families, but none of us have the time to spend all day in the kitchen. So what's a lady to do? Well, this is when I look to the store for a little help; and this time that meant a trip to my local Meijer store and my new friends at Aidells®.

Aidells® packaged Sausage Links and Meatballs come in unique, bold flavors, have incredible taste, and are made from hand picked ingredients. These aren't your everyday meats! They are also gluten free, contain NO nitrates, and have NO added hormones. For home cooks like me who care about what they see on the ingredient label, that is like icing on the cake! 

I cant' wait to try the sausages too, but this time around I was focusing on meatballs, which come in three tasty varieties, so it's easy to find the one that compliments the dish you're making. 

Aidells®  Meatballs Terriyaki and Pineapple (12oz)

Aidells®  Meatballs Italian Style with Mozzarella (12oz) 

Aidells®  Meatballs Caramelized Onion (12oz)

For me, they were super easy to find at Meijer, next to the " butcher" counter, not too far from the other packaged meats. 

 Oh, and right now you can get a $1/1 coupon through mPerks to make these even more budget friendly! This promotion runs from 5/1-5/28, so make sure you get to Meijer quick! Plus, on 5/1 there will be live in-store demos as well!

So, now that I have your attention, and probably drooling, I know you are wondering what did I choose to make with these yummy meatballs. Well, I had a rustic, hearty, but still simple meal on the brain, so I decided to try the Italian Style with Mozzarella.

This dish will have your family convinced you were sweating over the stove all day, when in reality you can have it on the table in about an hour. You can even make the sauce the day ahead to save even more time! (See notes in recipe.) Plus, since the meatballs are fully cooked, once the sauce is ready, you simply have to warm them in it for about 10 minutes to have a finished marinara with meatballs ready to go! 

So, if you're looking for a way to get dinner on the table in an easy, time friendly, but still delicious way, that you can feel good about...be sure to download that mPerks offer, head to Meijer and bring some Aidells® meatballs home today! 

Gnocchi with Meatballs

 2 (1 lb.) packages potato gnocchi

2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes

2 (12 oz.) packages Aidells® Italian Style Meatballs

2 celery stalks, cut in half

2 carrots, peeled and cut in half

2 garlic cloves, peeled

1 medium white onion, peeled, left whole

2 dry bay leaves

2 TBS butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Dried Parsley

Parmesan cheese

In a large pot or dutch oven, combine tomatoes, onion, celery, carrots, bay leaves, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Cook on low for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add butter, stir well. Add meatballs and allow to cook for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring another large pot of water to boil. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain well. Serve meatball sauce over gnocchi. Garnish with dried parsley. Serve Parmesan cheese on side. *NOTE* You can make the sauce a day ahead, cool and refrigerate. When ready, warm on stove top over low, add meatballs and follow remainder of recipe.

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson. The opinions and text are all mine.

Pasta's Cousin

By now you all know what a pasta lover I am. How if I had to pick one food to eat for the rest of my life, it would definitely be in the running. But now, I've got another Italian classic that I am currently obsessed with and can not get enough recipes for...gnocchi!

These little potato dumplings are like soft little potato pillows that can take on whatever flavor you want and be a super star doing it. I've seen them featured in so many different ways I could do a different one each week and never repeat!

Plus, I've seen our local stores (even the discount ones like Aldi) carrying more and more varieties as well. Different flavors than just the standard potato gnocchi, so you can really switch it up!

This time around I wanted to pair them with a traditional meat sauce that normally I would serve with a short cut pasta. Seriously, this sauce is so good, and super easy, there is no reason to by the jarred stuff again! And after you boil them, the gnocchi can finish cooking right in the skillet you make the sauce in, so it is really close to being another "one pot wonder" meal your family will love!

If you still haven't tried them at home, the store bought gnocchi are really a steal at the store. They are inexpensive and very filling. Be sure to keep the sauce recipe handy too for so many other things!

Gnocchi with Homemade Meat Sauce

2 lbs. gnocchi

1 lb. ground beef

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste

2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

Shredded Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet brown beef with onion. Drain if necessary. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings. Stir well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Boil gnocchi according to package directions and drain well. Add to sauce. Stir to combine. Keep on warm about 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Garnish with cheese.