Chicken Gnocchi Soup

One of my favorite foods at Olive Garden is the Chicken Gnocchi soup.  I LOVE it!  And we don't have one here in Moab :( so I have to try and make my own.  This isn't quite it, but it's pretty good, and it's just so pretty . . 


melt 1/3 cup butter in a soup or stock pot
saute 2 cloves minced garlic
         1/2 onion, chopped
         1 stick of celery, chopped
Add  1/3 cup flour
         2 cans chicken broth or 3 cups chicken stock from scratch
         1/2 tablespoon chicken base or 2 chicken boullion cubes
         2 cups half and half
         1 shredded carrot
         1/2 teaspoon thyme
         1/2 cup chopped spinach, fresh or frozen
         A couple of handfull of diced chicken, however much you like 
Mix and cook until soup thickens, stirring occasionally.   Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Add more milk if a thinner consistency is desired.   
Add 1/2 pound Gnocchi last and cook another 3-4 minutes.  Just long enough for the Gnocchi to cook throughout.  I also added a couple of dashes of Red Wine Vinegar, but that's optional.