Valentine's Day Dinner

Yesterday was officially Valentine's Day.  I'm not a big "celebrater" of Valentine's Day.  To me, it's a day to shame people into buying expensive chocolate, cards, and flowers.  Then those people who don't receive anything feel bad and depressed.  I do like to use it as an excuse to go out to dinner though.  ;)  Hubby and I went to dinner at Applebee's Saturday night and then I made a nice dinner Sunday night.  We had steak and chicken gnocchi soup.  The chicken gnocchi soup was very much like the one at Olive Garden.  It was the first time I had made it and it was good!  We had the leftovers tonight for dinner.  Leftovers are another plus.  It means a night I didn't have to make dinner (and two lunches)!  WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch of finely chopped scallions
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart half-and-half
2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth
Salt, if desired
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 drop of doTERRA Thyme essential oil
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1 cup  chopped fresh spinach leaves
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 (16-ounce) package ready-to-use gnocchi

Melt the butter into the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally until the onion becomes translucent. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Whisk in the half-and-half. Simmer until thickened. Whisk in the chicken broth. Simmer until thickened again. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, the thyme (if you are using the oil, add it at the end), nutmeg, carrots, spinach, chicken, and gnocchi. Simmer until the soup is heated through. Before serving, season with additional salt, if needed.