Recipe Monday #27 Easy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

I love the Chicken and Gnocchi Soup at Olive Garden, so when I saw gnocchi for sale at a local Italian restaurant/store, I had to give it a try.

I started with some recipes on line.  There seemed to be only one out there, so I started with it.  Many of the comments said "make a roux" (and used 1/3 cup of flour and butter), but in all the times I've eaten the soup, it never seemed that thick. My recipe is not as rich/buttery...I believe that is due to the Alfredo Sauce not being as buttery as Olive Garden's Alfredo Sauce.

So this is what I did:

Ingredients:
1 pound of cooked diced chicken (seasoned and baked in the oven for about 20 minutes) (I think they just boil it in the soup at my Olive Garden-it is always pink-ish which wigs me out!)
Butter (I used Smart Balance 1/2 butter sticks)
Bertolli AlfredoSauce (1/2 jar--the reason I didn't need to make a roux)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 of a grated carrot (approx 1/4 cup)
1 clove of minced garlic (or use garlic powder-maybe 1/8 tsp)
1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 package (approx 16 oz/1 pound) of gnocchi
1 cup fresh baby spinach
2 cartons of Swanson's Chicken Broth +2 cups of water
1 Tblsp Grated Parmesan Cheese

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large soup pot. Add onion and garlic....Cook but do not allow to burn.  Add 2 cartons of Swanson's Chicken Broth and 2 cups of water. Add Italian Seasoning. Grate carrot and add to broth. Bring to a boil. Add Parmesan Cheese and chicken. Return to a boil.  Add baby spinach and return to a boil. (I like my spinach to lose its color, but if you don't, wait and add it with the gnocchi.) I let it boil about 5 minutes and then add gnocchi.  Once the water returned to a full boil, I cooked the gnocchi for 2 minutes more. (You may need to adjust to the directions given on the package.)

This makes about 8 or 9 medium size bowls of soup.

Stampin' Addicts Technique Challenge 59 MOJO144

This card includes the Out of the Box (image extends beyond the edge of the square) technique, Marker direct to Stamp technique (SA Tech54) and Misted Markers on Acetate Background (SA Tech59).  The Misted Markers technique is today's Stampin' Addicts Technique Challenge shown here: http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/technique-challenges/5450-technique-challenge-59-6-22-10-misted-markers-acetate-background.html

I used the MOJO Monday sketch for this week as well.  It is a fun one!

Old Olive Artistic Etchings

This sneak peek card (the set will be available on July 1st) is one of the offerings for July Technique Class On July 1 at either 9:30 am or 6:30 pm.  It has a One Sheet Wonder style random stamping with deep rich colors and texture.  The brads in this picture are Not Quite Navy, but those will not be available in July, so I will use Early Espresso (the brown shown) brads and a Not Quite Navy scalloped oval on the sentiment (which can be changed to another sentiment in the Teeny Tiny Wishes set if desired).  Silver or Log Cabin Smooch Spritz is optional as shown on the images to the right. On my card, I used Old Olive to sponge the edges. The yellow is the pretty new Daffodil Delight. I'm so excited to use these new colors--I just wish there were more hours in the day. :)

Father's Day Palms

My Father-In-Law loves Hawaii, and he and my Mother-In-Law love to travel there, so when I saw a card with this little bear by Patti Lee, I had to CASE it!  Her bear's head tilts, but then I wouldn't have been able to live up to that for my dad and for my husband so I didn't go there. (giggle) I thought you all might like to see it too.

My 8 year old helped with stamping the Palm Trees and with some of the gluing too!  I added the white crochet thread drawstring to Mr. Bears shorts for fun.

Peach Parfait Butterfly

I CASE'd this card from page 19 of the Summer Mini Catalog because I just LOVE the layout/sketch.  I think it looks nice simplified a little too with the butterfly just die cut from the new Peach Parfait cardstock.  I used both the Log Cabin and the Silver Smooch Spritz on the Butterfly as well.

Decor Stencil and Marina Mist

I really enjoy using the Mostly Vintage Decor Stencil, and Marina Mist is one of my new favorite colors! I combined them and added the sentiment from the Level 3 hostess set, Occasional Quotes. Sponge the Stencil, sponge the edges, bit of ribbon, and ta da!--a simple yet pretty card.

I just lined up the scalloped sqaure to take a notch off the corner. I think it goes nicely with the Curly Label Punched sentiment and matching Big Shot layer under it.

Stampin' Addicts Retiring Sets Hop 2010

I'm so glad you stopped by today, and I hope you'll join us for Stampin' Addicts' 2010 Retiring Sets Blog Hop as we say good by to some stamps that have been "good friends" to us.  The blog hop begins at Noon EDT on Friday and continues through Sunday at Midnight...as always you may begin at any point and circle though all the stops.  Be sure to stop by Stampin' Addicts for fun and inspiration....here is a link to the hop chat thread that provides a list in case you get lost. http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/blog-hops/5381-stampin-addicts-last-chance-blog-hop.html#post284741

If you've already begun hopping, you've probably arrived from Cheryl's blog where she displayed her adorable projects using the Embrace Life set.

My chosen Stampin' Up! retiring stamp set is A Beautiful Thing.  I wanted to create picture frame with my daughter's pictures in it with this great sentiment, but I couldn't find the perfect picture to put inside for this set, so I stuck with cards this time.

First I used the MOJO142 sketch from Monday (Mojo Monday) to create a card using Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery.  I have the punched circles floating out of the "box", but the card will still fit in an envelope.

Next, I used the retiring Trio Flower Punch to punch one of the flowers from the set after stamping in Pretty in Pink on White....This created a slightly raised pattern that I think complements the Polka Dot Big Shot embossing folder.  Continuing the theme, the flower stamp from the set was stamped in Pretty in Pink on Whisper White, punched with the large flower punch and layered onto a Pretty in Pink flower from the Island Floral Bigz Die.  Taffeta ribbon and a mini button finish the cotton candy colored card.

Today, I was inspired to try Paula's Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge (SASC55), and created the card below. The sketch was inspired by page 5 of the Summer Mini Catalog, and fit right in with this set as well.

Baja Breeze, Early  Espresso and So Saffron made this set look fresh especially when combined with the new Early Espresso 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon for a quick and cute card.

That's all I have for you this time, so hop on to Jennifer's Blog for fun stamping projects featuring the Garden Whimsy stamp set.

~~~Next Stop on the Stampin' Addicts Hop~~~

Artistic Etchings Happy Anniversary

This was a nice pre-order for me...I really like all the choices we were given from Stampin' Up!  This card uses the Artistic Etchings stamp set, and the Happy Anniversary stamp from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set is punched out of Very Vanilla cardstock with the modern label punch on the inside.  I was inspired by page 19 of the 2010-11 catalog.

Worked out pretty well for me to be able to make a new card for class and display and also have it for my wedding anniversary on June 15th! We'll also be making this card (and a Sweet Scoops card) at my FREE July 15th Get the Scoop on the New Catalog Ice Cream Party, so if you're in the Edmond area, just let me know (so I can cut cardstock), and then drop in!

An aside....when we saw the Eiffel Tower, there weren't any trees at the base of it....so I am going to pretend that fluffy stuff is fog.  If it were a view from far away, the trees would hide the bottom...just sayin'.

Be sure to check back on Friday at noon for the Stampin' Addicts Retiring Sets Hop!

MOJO Monday Friends Never Fade

I wanted to make a card using Stampin' Up!'s new Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, new Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper and Friends Never Fade stamp set for my downline meeting tonight.  Today's MOJO142 sketch made it easy. I really enjoy the new Stampin' Up! Color Daffodil Delight...I don't usually like bright yellow, but this one is toned down just enough. I layered the new 1/8 inch Daffodil Delight taffeta over the 1/4 inch Pumpkin Pie grosgrain to gild the lily.

Stampin Up! Demonstrators: Consider joining my Christmas Cardfront Swap on Stampin' Addicts here: http://www.stampinaddicts.com/forums/demo-swaps/5160-open-christmas-cardfront-swap-open-6-1-close-7-19-due-8-2-a.html

My Dad's Bicycle

One good thing about my parents not having a computer and internet is I can just post their cards for all to see. :)  I had to buy the Pedaling Past Stampin Up! set when I saw it because the bike is so similar to the one my dad received for Christmas when he was 8.  It is a simple card, but I bet he will love it.

Because I Care Hostess Level 1 set for next Stampin' Up! catalog

I'm pretty sure this set would have been my first Level 1 Hostess free set choice, but there are so many beautiful choices in the Level 1s this year I could be wrong. Demonstrators received this set for free, and I had to make a blue hydrangea first thing out of the box.  (LOVE blue hydrangeas...pink are nice, but BLUE!)

I chose to make a simple card and used the new colors Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz (2010-12 In Color) and Daffodil Delight. I used those colors along with Bashful Blue and Baja Breeze to color the image for a quick and easy card with some Daffodil sponging on the edges.  The new Vintage Wallpaper texture folder makes a striking background, and the new 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon makes a substantial accent when used en masse like I did on the top left corner. :)

Stampin' Up! Retiring Stamp Sets, Accessories and Definitely Decorative items

If you see something you need, you may order online any time, email me or put your order with the regular order that will go in on Friday, June 4th at noon. The accessories may sell out as they do not guarantee availability for them. I can check availability daily as SU! updates availability.
Eleven pages of Retiring Accessories: Keep in mind that some are just being reconfigured because of changes in the color collections and paper packs. Some are discounted 25 or 50%. (There is an asterisk to the left of the items that are only being reconfigured not exactly retiring on the links without pictures.) http://204.228.150.61/2010lastchancelist/Retiredaccessories-USENG.pdf
Tip: If your internet/computer can handle a lot of pictures, set the top right “SHOW” tab to 80 to see more at one time.
With Pictures: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=754&cid=71

Retiring Stamp Sets: http://204.228.150.61/2010lastchancelist/LastChanceStamps_0510_US.pdf
With Pictures: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=738

Retiring Definitely Decorative items are 25% off which is nice: http://204.228.150.61/2010lastchancelist/LastChanceDefinitelyDecorative_0510_US.pdf
With Pictures: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=740&cid=71

The Stampin’ Addicts Retiring Sets Blog Hop will be Friday, June 11th through Sunday, June 13th if you’d like to see the retiring sets showcased…You can begin the hop on my blog at noon on the 11th.

Below is a tent topper card made with the Spring Song Set which is sadly on the retirement list.  We will make this card at June's Quick Chicks and Chocolates Card Class.