My recipes this week range from Stromboli to Lodi Apples.


1 hour at 350 degrees. After lasagna is done baking, let stand 5 minutes before serving. Makes a 9 x 13 x 3 pan.

Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)
4 T. butter
4 T. flour
1 quart half and half
1 - 14 oz. can chicken broth
1/2 c. celery, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c. carrots, finely shredded
1 c. onion, finely diced
1 c. fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. parsley
Freshly grated parmesan cheese - optional
1 lb. potato gnocchi - (can buy this in the gourmet section of many supermarkets)
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter, when the onion becomes translucent, add the flour, and make a roux (a roux is a substance that is used to thicken soups), let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Into the roux add in the carrots, celery, and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings. Let cook for approximately 5 more minutes until heated through and ingredients are well blended. Top with fresh parmesan and enjoy!!!
Comments about this recipe: You can add more chicken if you like. While you could use left over cooked chicken breasts, using rotisserie chicken that can be found in many supermarkets is the best way to get the optimal flavor of this soup. If you want to make the soup lower in calories use milk instead of half and half. Half and half, does taste better, and it also reheats better than milk does.
Sonflower's comments about this recipe: I used chicken breasts. I diced the meat and then cooked them in the extra virgin olive oil on medium heat. The seasoning I put on the meat was garlic salt, paprika and black pepper. I cooked the chicken until it was not pink in the center. I used a 50/50 mixture of flour (half bleached flour and half whole wheat flour). I used 2% milk instead of half and half - decreasing the amount from 1 quart (4 cups) to 3 cups. I omitted the celery, but used minced onion instead of a fresh onion. I purchased whole wheat gnocchi, rather than white flour gnocchi. Catfish'n liked!!! That's all that mattered to me, and he said that my recipe was a keeper!!!


A friend of mine had shared some iced coffee she made last week during VBS. It was sooooo good. She used a local coffee companies coffee beans that are hazelnut flavored(she has a brand new coffee maker that grinds the beans and then brews the coffee), and then she puts a cinnamon stick in the brewed coffee. Next, she adds a little milk and some Splenda, and WOW!!! it's almost like having dessert!!! I tried sort of the same thing tonight. I made coffee using a blend that another friend had given me for Christmas or something. It was the Ghirardelli blend Chocolate/Almond/Cinnamon. Oh yeah!!! This was almost as good!!!

2/3 c. distilled water
4 T. green tea + aloe (Method hand wash - purchased at HyVee)
warm the distilled water in microwave
(I actually boiled mine on the stove)
Then add the 4 tablespoons of hand soap
Stir gently - you don't want bubbles
Allow to sit for 5 minutes
Next, slowly pour into foaming soap bottle
Use this same recipe for any scent of gel hand soap you want - sweet pea, lavender, mango-peach. You name it, whatever scent of gel soap you can find, it will work!!!
Another little secret I am going to let you in on involves Greek yogurt!!! I remember Musician thinking a fruit selection at a restaurant in Paris was vanilla pudding and fruit, when in reality it was Greek yogurt and fruit. It was an odd flavor to us then, but now I really like it. My friend that brought me the iced coffee, and taught me the little secret with the foaming hand soap, also taught me this little secret. I have a favorite blueberry Greek yogurt that I like and can purchase at Dillons. However, it is a little pricey. My friend suggested that I use the plain Greek yogurt, add some fresh blueberries, and then use sugar free blueberry preserves.
I tried her idea this morning, and it was fabulous!!!
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