Chicken and Gnocchi with Garlic Breadsticks: Olive Garden Copy Cat recipe

I decided to make my all-time favorite thing to order from Olive Garden. This garlic-y soup makes my taste buds tingle, and those breadsticks drive me crazy!

What you'll need:

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup:
-1 pkg. of Gnocchi
-1 pkg. of spinach
-1 quart of half-n-half
-1/2 lb. to 1 lb. of chicken
-1/2 teaspoon of thyme
-1 teaspoon of minced of garlic
-2 tablespoons of butter
-1 teaspoon of garlic powder
-1 tablespoon of parsley
-3 cups of water
-3 bouillon cubes
-1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
-4 tablespoons of flour

Breadsticks:
-4-5 cups of flour
-5 tablespoons of butter (to be divided)
-1 pkg. of yeast
-2 tablespoons of sugar
-1 1/2 cups of warm water
-salt
-1 teaspoon of garlic powder

*breadstick recipe from: http://readableeatables.blogspot.com/2011/08/olive-garden-breadsticks.html

First, prepare the gnocchi according to the directions on the package. You know they gnocchi is cooked when the dumplings float.

Next, boil the chicken in a large pot with the water for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is white all the way through. Then shred the chicken and set aside. Then add the bouillon cubes to the water and simmer. Then add the shredded chicken to the water.

Then add the minced garlic, parsley, the butter, and the olive oil to a medium sauce pan and cook it together until everything is even and consistent. Then add the flour and cook about a minute more.

Next, add the half-n-half and stir constantly. Stir until the mixture is hot and consistent. Then add to the chicken in the large pot. Then add the thyme and spinach (already cooked/heated up) and stir until thoroughly mixed. Let simmer until ready to eat.

For the breadsticks, mix the water, yeast, and sugar in a large mixing bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes.

Then add 2 cups of flour and stir until consistent. Then slowly add more flour until it is dough-like and pliable. Then let it sit for an hour until it has doubled in size.

 Melt 1-1/2 tablespoons of butter.

Spread out the dough into a log-shaped thing. Then cut into 14 long pieces. Then roll out into about 6 inch pieces.

Then put them on a greased cookie sheet. Put them in the oven set to 170 degrees and let them rise for about 15 minutes.

 This is what they look like rolled out.

 Once they come out of the oven, spread the butter out on top of them.

Then heat the oven to 400 degrees. Then, put the breadsticks in the oven for about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Add the garlic powder the remaining melted butter. Then add the butter mixture on top of the cooked breadsticks.

Then serve!